The United States Postal Service (USPS) has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that as a result of the power outage on Thursday, August 14, 2003, a number of post offices throughout the Northeast and Midwest United States are closed or are not accepting mail. The USPTO is designating the interruption in the service of the USPS as a postal service interruption and an emergency within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 21(a) and 37 C.F.R. 1.6(e). As soon as the USPTO receives further information from the USPS as to when postal services in the affected areas will be resumed, the USPTO will post the information on the USPTO's Internet Web site at www.uspto.gov and a final notice will be published in the Official Gazette.
Correspondence that would have been filed with the USPTO under 37 CFR 1.10 during this USPS service interruption, but which was not filed due to the USPS service interruption, should be filed promptly after the termination of the USPS service interruption with a statement that the correspondence would have been deposited with the USPS but for the designated interruption or emergency in "Express Mail" service.
Inquiries concerning this notice may be directed to Eugenia Jones by e-mail at eugenia.jones@uspto.gov or telephone at 703-306-5586.