PRESS RELEASE Contact: Maria V. Hernandez 703-305-8341 maria.hernandez2@uspto.gov December 13, 2001 #01-59 USPTO CLOSED ON MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2001 Agency Offers Guidance to Customers for Patent and Trademark-Related Deadlines Falling on Holidays The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will be closed on Monday, December 24, 2001 in accordance with an executive order issued by President George W. Bush on December 6, 2001. Since Tuesday, December 25, 2001 is already a federal holiday, any action or fee due on those days, or on December 22 or December 23, 2001, will be considered as timely on the next succeeding business day on which the USPTO is open which will be Wednesday, December 26, 2001. For complete information on the December 24, 2001 closing, customers should visit the agency's web site at http://www.uspto.gov/emergencyclosure.htm. For information on future USPTO closings, call 1-800-786-9199 or 703-308-4357. # # #