DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

                   United States Patent and Trademark Office

                         [Docket No. 000328087-0087-01

                                 RIN 0651-XX23

              Reestablishment of the Patent and Trademark Office
               as the United States Patent and Trademark Office

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of reestablishment and adoption of seal.

SUMMARY: The Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act reestablishes
the Patent and Trademark Office as the United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO), an agency of the United States, within the
Department of Commerce. USPTO will continue to issue patents, register
trademarks, and disseminate information about patents and trademarks
under the policy direction of the Secretary of Commerce, but will
otherwise exercise independent control of its budget allocations and
expenditures, personnel decisions and processes, procurements, and other
administrative and management functions. This notice will explain some
key aspects of USPTO's new functions and authorities.

EFFECTIVE DATE: March 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office,
Washington, D.C. 20231.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Torczon, 703-305-9035.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency
Act (PTOEA) (Pub. L. 106-113, 113 Stat. 1501A-572) becomes effective
March 29, 2000, and reestablishes the Patent and Trademark Office as an
agency of the United States, within the Department of Commerce. The
PTOEA transforms USPTO into a performance-based organization that uses
quantitative and qualitative measures and standards for evaluating
cost-effectiveness that are consistent with the principles of
impartiality and competitiveness. Under the PTOEA, USPTO will continue
to issue patents, register trademarks, and disseminate information about
patents and trademarks under the policy direction of the Secretary of
Commerce, but USPTO will exercise independent control over its budget
allocations and expenditures, personnel decisions and processes,
procurements, and other administrative and management functions. Some
key aspects of the reestablishment of USPTO include:

   1. New Titles

   The head of USPTO is the "Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual
Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office".
The Director is assisted by the "Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for
Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent
and Trademark Office".

   The patent operations of USPTO are now headed by the "Commissioner for
Patents".

   The trademark operations of USPTO are now headed by the "Commissioner
for Trademarks".

   Under section 4741 (b) of the PTOEA, any reference to the Commissioner
of Patents and Trademarks, the Assistant Commissioner for Patents, or
the Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks is deemed to refer to the
Director, the Commissioner for Patents, or the Commissioner for
Trademarks, respectively. Hence, until further notice, no change is
necessary to any mailing procedure, form, or other document submitted to
USPTO. Appropriate use of the new titles is acceptable as well.

   2. Mailing Address

   The mailing address remains the same, as reflected in the ADDRESSES
section above. USPTO will accept mail addressed to either the Director
of the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the Commissioner of
Patents and Trademarks.

   3. Continuity of Operations

   Under subsection 4743(a) of the PTOEA, all orders, determinations,
rules, regulations, permits, grants, loans, contracts, agreements,
certificates, licenses, and privileges in effect on March 28, 2000,
shall remain in effect with equal force. Similarly, under subsection
4743(b), all proceedings under way on March 28, 2000, shall continue. To
this end, USPTO adopts all authorities, including rules, manuals,
orders, and precedent, of the Patent and Trademark Office in effect on
March 28, 2000. Until otherwise indicated, USPTO will continue to follow
the Federal Acquisition Regulations and Department of Commerce
regulations applicable to the Patent and Trademark Office on March 28,
2000.

   USPTO may continue to use existing stocks of letterhead and other
products.

   5. Seal

USPTO adopts the following as its seal which shall be judicially noticed
and with which letters patent, certificates of trademark registrations,
and papers issued by USPTO shall be authenticated:

   (Graphic of Seal Inserted)

   (Authority: Sec. 4712, Pub. L. 106-113, 113 Stat. 1501A-572 (35
U.S.C. 2(b)).)

March 30, 2000                                            Q. TODD DICKINSON
                                            Under Secretary of Commerce for
                                  Intellectual Property and Director of the
                                  United States Patent and Trademark Office