Status of Office of Public Records Services 

   The Office of Public Records (OPR) processes and fills orders for both 
certified and uncertified copies of Patent and Trademark Office documents 
and records assignments and other documents related to title.  This is an 
update of actual processing times during the month of November 2000:

Document Services                       Goal            Actual 
                                                        Processing
                                                        Time
Certified Documents

Patent Applications-As-Filed,            7 days          5 days
Expedited
Patent Applications-As-Filed,           17 days         16 days 
Regular
Patent Related File Wrappers            25 days         54 days*
Patent Copies                           10 days          7 days
Patent Assignments                      10 days          8 days
Trademark Applications-As-Filed,         7 days          5 days
Expedited
Trademark Applications-As-Filed,        17 days         15 days
Regular
Trademark Related File Wrappers         25 days         26 days*
Trademark Assignments                   10 days          8 days
Trademark Registrations, Expedited       5 days          4 days
Trademark Registrations, Regular        14 days          8 days

Uncertified Documents

Expedited Patent Copies                  1 day           1 day
Regular Patent Copies                    3 days          4 days
Plant Patents                            3 days          6 days
Patent Assignments                      10 days          5 days
Patent Related File Wrappers            25 days         25 days*
Expedited Trademark Copies               1 day           1 day 
Regular Trademark Copies                 3 days          2 days
Trademark Assignments                   10 days          5 days  
Trademark Related File Wrappers         25 days         18 days*

* Includes turnaround times for files on Official Search and File 
Reconstruction.

During the month of November 2000, a total of 19,140 public orders (32,061 
copies) were filled and closed, or 5,343 orders more (6,495 copies less) 
than the FY-01 planning number of 13,797 orders (38,556 copies) to be 
closed for this month.  The average turnaround times for products remained 
in expected ranges.

Due to 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.  In determining 
expected delivery times, the day an order is received in the Office is 
calculated as "day zero."  The next business day is "day one."  

Customers are encouraged to fax orders for copies directly to the Document 
Services Division at (703) 308-9759 and to pay by PTO Deposit Account, 
MasterCard, Visa, American Express or Discover.  Copy orders also may be 
placed through the Internet by accessing the PTO home page at www.uspto.gov 
and selecting the "Order Copies" option. 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), or via E-mail: 
dsd@uspto.gov.

ASSIGNMENT SERVICES

The Assignment Division is currently mailing recordation notices for 
documents received in the Office of Public Records on October 12, 2000.  
The cycle time to process, record, and mail notices is 51 calendar days.

Dec. 12, 2000                                         PATRIC ROWE, Director                                           Date
                                                   Office of Public Records