Peer To Patent is a historic initiative originally undertaken with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that opens the prior art search process for patent applications to public participation for the first time. Now the program is undertaking a pilot with the Intellectual Property Office of the UK (IPO). Peer To Patent is an online system that aims to improve the quality of issued patents by enabling the public to supply the IPO with information relevant to assessing the claims of pending patent applications.

This pilot project connects an open network for community input to the legal decision-making process. The community supplies information and research based on its expertise. The patent examiner makes the final determination on the basis of legal standards. This process combines the democracy of open participation with the legitimacy and effectiveness of administrative decision making.