The U.S. patent office's innovative Peer-to-Patent pilot project is going well, and so they're ramping it up:

The Patent and Trademark Office is extending the duration, increasing the maximum number of applications, and expanding the scope of applications eligible to participate in its peer review pilot program. The initiative, launched in June 2007, encourages the public to review volunteered published patent applications and submit technical references and comments on what they believe to be the best prior art for consideration. The expansion and extension took effect Wednesday.

Jul. 17, '08
patents, social technologies