(29) Closing of the Patent and Trademark Office on Monday, January 8, 1996 through Wednesday, January 10, 1996 In view of the official closing of the Federal government offices in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the Patent and Trademark Office, on Monday, January 8, 1996 through Wednesday, January 10, 1996, the Patent and Trademark Office will consider each of those days, a "federal holiday within the District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. 21 and 37 C.F.R. 1.6, 1.7 and 1.10. Any action or fee due on any of those days will be considered as being timely filed if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on the next succeeding business day on which the Patent and Trademark Office was open, that is, Thursday, January 11, 1996. January 24, 1996 BRUCE A. LEHMAN Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks [1183 OG 59]