United States Patent and Trademark Office OG Notices: 30 December 2003

                       Patent Cooperation Treaty Update

   The International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization
has informed the United States Patent and Trademark Office that the
European Patent Office has established an increased search fee in
Euro applicable from January 1, 2004.
   Accordingly, an increased dollar amount has been established for the
search fee required by the European Patent Office, with effect from
January 1, 2004.  The dollar amount of the search fee required by the
European Patent Office when acting as International Searching Authority
will be $1,818 beginning January 1, 2004.

December 8, 2003                                             JAMES E. ROGAN
                                            Under Secretary of Commerce for
                                  Intellectual Property and Director of the
                                  United States Patent and Trademark Office