Changes in Procedure for Papers Filed at the Customer Service Window The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is changing procedures for the filing of papers at the Customer Service Window (also known as the Attorneys' Window) located in Room 1B03 of Crystal Plaza Building 2, Arlington, Virginia, 22202. The USPTO currently provides walk-up, personalized service to firms and individuals who are filing documents with the USPTO from 8:30 am until 12:00 midnight on Monday through Friday (except holidays), which includes stamping postcard-type receipts to acknowledge the receipt of papers filed at the Customer Service Window. The change in procedure concerns days on which the USPTO is closed during part of the day due to inclement weather or other emergency, as well as the day before Christmas Day and the day before New Year's Day. On these days, the Customer Service Window will remain open until midnight for filing of papers; however, there may not be anyone at the Customer Window to stamp a postcard-type receipt to acknowledge the receipt of papers. Rather, customers may deposit papers (envelopes) through the Customer Service Window on such a day until midnight, at which time the USPTO will close the Customer Service Window, and papers deposited through the Customer Service Window prior to midnight will be stamped with a of receipt (37 CFR 1.6(a)) on that day in due course. Provisions are also available for the filing papers through the use of the certificate of mailing (37 CFR 1.8) and the Express Mail (37 CFR 1.10) procedures. Inquiries regarding this notice should be directed to Sally Middleton at 703-308-7825. December 18, 2000 NICHOLAS P. GODICI Commissioner for Patents