[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 20 (Monday, February 1, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5012-5013]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-2029]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

37 CFR Part 41

[Docket No.: PTO-P-2009-0021]
RIN 0651-AC37


Rules of Practice Before the Board of Patent Appeals and 
Interferences in Ex Parte Appeals; Extension of Comment Period on 
Potential Modifications to Final Rule

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or 
Office) published an advance notice of proposed rule making, with 
request for comments, considering potential modifications to rules 
governing practice before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences 
(BPAI) in ex parte patent appeals. The USPTO is extending the period 
for public comment on the potential modifications to the final rule 
until February 26, 2010.

DATES: The deadline for receipt of written comments on potential 
modifications to the final rule is 5 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on 
February 26, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on potential modifications to the final 
rule should be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet 
addressed to [email protected]. Comments on potential modifications 
to the final rule may also be submitted by mail addressed to: Mail Stop 
Interference, Director of the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the 
attention of ``Linda Horner, BPAI Rules.'' Although comments may be 
submitted by mail, the USPTO prefers to receive comments via the 
Internet.
    The written comments will be available for public inspection at the 
Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, located in Madison East, 
Ninth Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia, and will be 
available via the USPTO Internet Web site (address: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/bpai/). Because comments will be made 
available for public inspection, information that is not desired to be 
made public, such as an address or phone number, should not be included 
in the comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Horner, Administrative Patent 
Judge, Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, by telephone at (571) 
272-9797, or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Interference, Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the attention of Linda Horner.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Patent and Trademark 
Office (USPTO or Office) published an advance notice of proposed rule 
making on potential modifications to rules governing practice before 
the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI) in ex parte patent 
appeals (74 FR 67987 (Dec. 22, 2009)). The notice also announced a 
public roundtable that was held on January 20, 2010. A link to the Web 
cast of the roundtable may be found at http://www.uspto.gov/ip/boards/bpai/roundtable_info.jsp. In the notice, the public was invited to 
submit

[[Page 5013]]

written comments on potential modifications to the final rule that were 
to be received on or before February 12, 2010. The USPTO is now 
extending the period for submission of public comments until February 
26, 2010. Any comments that have already been received are under 
consideration and need not be resubmitted.

    Dated: January 26, 2010.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-2029 Filed 1-29-10; 8:45 am]
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