Green Paper Concerning Restriction Practice

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has established a 21st Century Strategic Plan to transform the USPTO into a quality focused, highly productive, responsive organization supporting a market-driven intellectual property system. As a part of this plan, the USPTO is conducting a study of its restriction practice. As part of this study, the Office requested public comments to help guide the study. After careful consideration of the public comments and an internal review, the USPTO has prepared a “Green Paper” describing and evaluating four options to reform restriction practice suggested by various members of the public. Prior to considering the desirability of drafting proposed legislation in a “White Paper” on reforming restriction practice, the USPTO is seeking public comment on the Green Paper.

>>link to Green Paper [PDF]<<

Comment deadline date: To be ensured of consideration, written comments must be received on or before August 5, 2005. No public hearing will be held. Comments should be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to: unity.comments@uspto.gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments--Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA, 22313-1450, or by facsimile to (571) 273-7735, marked to the attention of Robert A. Clarke. Although comments may be submitted by mail or facsimile, the Office prefers to receive comments via the Internet. If comments are submitted by mail, the Office prefers that the comments be submitted on a DOS formatted 3 ½ inch disk accompanied by a paper copy.

For further information contact: Robert A. Clarke, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at (571) 272-7735, by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments--Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA, 22313-1450, or by facsimile to (571) 273-7735, marked to the attention of Robert A. Clarke, or preferably via e-mail addressed to: robert.clarke@uspto.gov.

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