United States Patent and Trademark Office OG Notices: 29 March 2005

                       Contact for Matters Relating to
                        Suggesting Interferences under
                            37 CFR Sec. 41.202(a)

   Applicant's suggesting an interference pursuant to 37 CFR Sec.
41.202(a) should note that proposed interferences will not be forwarded
to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences for consideration
unless ex parte examination has been completed. 37 CFR Sec.
41.102. In other words, applications will not be forwarded to the Board
unless the application is in condition for allowance "but for" the
resolution of the possible interference.

   Status inquiries relating to the suggestion of an interference under
Sec. 41.202(a) in applications in which all ex parte matters have been
resolved should be sent to Daniel Hunter using the following e-mail
address:

                Interference.status@uspto.gov

   The body of the e-mail must identify the application serial number
and state that ex parte examination has been completed. Submission of
interference status inquiries relating to applications that have not
completed ex parte examination may delay final resolution of ex parte
matters and the declaration of an interference.

   Status inquiries relating to declared interferences (37 CFR Sec.
41.203(b)) should not be sent to the above e-mail, but should be filed
with Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences following the
established procedures for conducting interference proceedings as
outlined in 37 CFR Secs. 41.100-41.208.

March 8, 2005                                          MARGARET A. FOCARINO
                                                    Deputy Commissioner for
                                                          Patent Operations