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 October 1996:

Certified Product                         Goal              Actual
                                                            Calendar
                                                            Days
                                                            to Mail

Patent Application-As-Filed,                 7                  4
  Expedited
Patent Application-As-Filed,                17                 15
  Regular
Patent Related File Wrapper                 25                 38
Patent Copy                                 10                  3
Patent Assignments                          17                  4

Trademark Application-As-Filed,              7                  8
  Expedited
Trademark Application-As-Filed,             17                  9
  Regular
Trademark Related File Wrapper              25                 15
Trademark Assignments                       17                  5
Trademark Registration, Expedited            3*                 5*
Trademark Registration, Regular             10*                 6*

*Business Days

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, D.C. Metro
area).

November 14, 1996                                        WESLEY H. GEWEHR
                                            Administrator for Information
                                                            Dissemination