Ken Leeds

Sirs:

I assume that since 6/11/04 was a Federal holiday, this e-mail is timely.

To the extent that any of the new ethics rules purport to place a duty of disclosure on a patentee or his counsel after a patent has issued, this is improper because it in effect substantively modifies the patent laws. This is Congress's job, not the USPTO.

Further, it would unduly complicate and render more expensive the patent process. I do not think any other country in the world creates burdens such as the one currently under consideration by the USPTO. The proposed ethics rules should not be enacted.

Regards,
Ken Leeds
Reg. No. 30,566
P.O. Box 2819
Sunnyvale, CA 94087-0819