Applications Filed Under 37 CFR 1.60 on or After
                    May 8, 1995, and Prior to June 8, 1995

   The PTO has always required a proper continuation or divisional
application filed under 37 CFR 1.60 to identify the application number
(or serial number and filing date) of the prior application. The
information is typically provided by the applicant in the application
transmittal letter containing the request for processing under 37 CFR
1.60 or in a separate statement verifying the copy of the prior
application supplied by the applicant as a "true copy".
   As a result of the new 20-year patent term which was effective on
June 8, 1995, a large number of continuation or divisional applications
were received in the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) during the weeks
prior to June 8, 1995, using the procedure set forth in 37 CFR 1.60.
Unfortunately, a number of these applications were incomplete under 37
CFR 1.60 because the applications failed to identify the application
number (or serial number and filing date of the prior application. In
some instances, the application number of the prior application could
not be identified in the 37 CFR 1.60 application papers because the
information concerning the application number assigned to the prior
application by the PTO had not yet been supplied to the applicant by the
PTO. A petition and payment of the $130.00 petition fee would normally
be required to accord the application the original date of deposit as
the filing date.
   However, in view of the extraordinary circumstances which
necessitated the filing of these continuation or divisional applications
prior to June 8, 1995, the requirment that the application number of the
prior application be supplied in the 37 CFR 1.60 application papers on
filing is hereby waived, sua sponte, for all continuation or divisional
applications filed under 37 CFR 1.60 which were filed in the PTO or
deposited in the Express Mail service pursuant to 37 CFR 1.10 on or
after May 8, 1995, and prior to June 8, 1995. No other requirement of 37
CFR 1.60 is being waived by this notice.
   Where applicant receives a notice from the PTO in a continaution or
divisional application under 37 CFR 1.60 filed on or after May 8, 1995,
and prior to June 8, 1995, stating that the application is incomplete
because the application number of the prior application was omitted, the
delay in supplying the application number of the prior application will
be excused without a petition or a petition fee being required, if
applicant files a paper supplying the application number (or serial
number and filing date) of the prior application within TWO MONTHS of
the date of the notice mailed in the application or the publication date
of this notice in the Official Gazette, whichever is later. If a
petition fee has already been paid in such a case, the Office will
refund the petition fee.

June 27, 1995                                         EDWARD R. KAZENSKE
                                            Deputy Assistant Commisioner
                                                             for Patents