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