human: May an applicant obtain patent term adjustment even if prosecution is less than 3 years?
assistant: Yes, assuming the application is eligible, patent term adjustment is available under either 35 USC 154(b)(1)(A) (administrative delays) or (C) (interferences, secrecy orders and successful appeals) regardless of how long the application was pending in the Office. See 37 CFR 1.702(a), (c), (d), and (e). Example: An application is filed 6/1/00. A notice of allowance is mailed 9/1/01. The issue fee is paid and all formal requirements are satisfied on 12/1/01. The patent is not issued until 5/1/02. As the patent was not issued in four months following the payment of the issue fee, the period of delay from 4/2/02 to 5/1/02 would give rise to patent term adjustment pursuant 35 USC 154(b)(1)(A)(iv) and 37 CFR 1.702(a)(4) and 1.703(a)(6).