Patent and Trademark Office June 6, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has established a 21st Century Strategic Plan to transform the USPTO into a quality focused, highly productive, responsive organization supporting a market-driven intellectual property system. As a part of this plan, the USPTO is conducting a study of its restriction practice. As part of this study, the Office requested public comments to help guide the study. After careful consideration of the public comments and an internal review, the USPTO has prepared a ``Green Paper'' describing and evaluating four options to reform restriction practice suggested by various members of the public. Prior to considering the desirability of drafting proposed legislation in a ``White Paper'' on reforming restriction practice, the USPTO is seeking public comment on the Green Paper.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a certificate under 35 U.S.C. 156(d)(5) for a second one-year interim extension of the term of U.S. Patent No. 4,591,585.