Status of Certification Services

   On November 28, 1995, the Office published an Official Gazette Notice
entitled "Temporary Suspension of At Cost Services for Orders for
Certified Copies" (1180 OG 121) to advise practitioners and the public
of delays in filling orders for certified copies of PTO documents. This
is an update of actual days to mail for orders filled during the month
of April 1997:

Certified Product                        Goal             Actual
                                                          Days
                                                          to Mail

Patent Application-As-Filed,              7                5
Expedited
Patent Application-As-Filed,             17               12
Regular
Patent Related File Wrapper              25               37
Patent Copy                              10                7
Patent Assignments                       10                7

Trademark Application-As-Filed,           7                5
Expedited
Trademark Application-As-Filed,          17               12
Regular
Trademark Related File Wrapper           25               20
Trademark Assignments                    10                9
Trademark Registration,                   5                4
Expedited
Trademark Registration,                  14                9
Regular

Due to backlogs and varying availability of media, customers will not be
advised when orders are not delivered within the published goal periods.
However, customers will be advised if any unexpected delay in their
order has been identified. Customers should use the above actual days to
mail for each product as a guide as to when they can expect their orders.

Delivery of any specific copy will vary based on the availability of
microfilm products and/or file accessibility. Customers are encouraged
to fax orders for copies directly to Certification Division at (703)
308-9759 and to pay by PTO Deposit Account, MasterCard, or Visa.
Information on the status of pending orders may be obtained by calling
(703) 308-9726 or 1 (800) 972-6382 (outside the Washington, DC Metro
area).

May 8, 1997                                                WESLEY H. GEWEHR
                                              Administrator for Information
                                                              Dissemination