June 22, 2004

Final rules for implementing the computerized registration examination are scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on Thursday, June 24, 2004. A new General Requirements Bulletin, including a new application form, will be posted on the OED link of the Office website the same day. Persons seeking registration must complete and file the new application form. Use of outdated applications forms will delay processing. Beginning Friday, June 25, 2004, applications and fees can be filed for processing. Applications must contain an applicant’s original personal signature in permanent ink. Therefore, the application forms may be submitted by mail or hand-delivered in accordance with address instructions in the Bulletin, as opposed to being submitted by facsimile.

The Office of Enrollment and Discipline will process the applications as they are received. Applicants satisfying the qualification requirements will be notified in writing of their admission to the examination. They will be instructed when and how to communicate with Thomson Prometric to arrange to take the examination. Administration of the examination will begin on Monday, July 26, 2004, and continue each business day thereafter.

Applicants should note that Revision 2 of the 8th Edition of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) was recently released. However, until further notice, the registration examination will be based on Revision 1 of the 8th Edition of the MPEP.

To implement the computerized examination, it has been necessary to change rules regarding fees and enrollment procedures. A notice of proposed rulemaking to make those changes was published in the Federal Register on December 12, 2003, which set a sixty-day period for comments. Due to the large number of comments received in reply to the proposed rulemaking, additional time was required to identify, review and address all comments pertaining to the enrollment aspects in the proposed rules.

We appreciate everyone’s cooperation, patience, and generous understanding.

Harry I. Moatz
Director of Enrollment and Discipline