How has the patent bar exam changed recently?

From history drudge to practice-lite, but lags — still fax-heavy despite digital shift. Pass rates dipped to 42% in 2023.

Is AI reliable for patent work?

Handy for searches (40% faster), risky for claims (17% hallucination rate). Needs human vetting.

Will the USPTO update the patent bar for AI?

Likely by 2026 — proctoring tools could spike passes 25%, but inertia reigns now.

©️ IP & Copyright

Patent Bar Exam's Fax Machine Obsession Persists as AI Floods IP Law

In 2023, the patent bar's first-time pass rate cratered to 42%—the lowest in over a decade. Experts blame relics like fax machine protocols, even as AI upends the field.

theAIcatchup Apr 10, 2026 3 min read

Gene Quinn and John White on IPWatchdog Unleashed podcast discussing patent bar and AI

⚡ Key Takeaways

Patent bar pass rates at 42% in 2023 due to outdated topics like fax rules. 𝕏
AI aids patent searches but risks 17% hallucinations—human expertise essential. 𝕏
USPTO must overhaul exam to match practice; predict 25% pass rate boost by 2026. 𝕏

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#AI in patent law #IPWatchdog podcast #USPTO changes #patent bar exam #patent hallucinations

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Originally reported by IPWatchdog

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