(52)                Indexing Against a Recorded Assignment

   It has been the practice of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) 
to process requests for indexing against a recorded document by
adding the newly requested property to the data base record for the 
previously recorded document, except if the previously recorded document 
was an assignment. The PTO only required a transmittal letter with 
the recording fee and not a copy of the previously recorded document to
process the indexing request. While indexing the additional properties 
resulted in the assignment data base being updated, the indexing request
itself was never microfilmed to become part of the official record.
   Effective immediately, the PTO will no longer process such indexing
requests. Such indexing requests do not comply with 37 CFR 3.11, 3.28,
and 3.31 which require that each request for recordation include the
document to be recorded and a cover sheet. Instead of filing an indexing
request, a party should submit a cover sheet in conformance with 37 CFR
3.31, a true copy of the document, and the recording fee. PTO will
assign a new recording date to that submission, update the assignment
data base, and microfilm the cover sheet and document to become part of
the official record.

Nov. 3, 1993                                          THERESA A. BRELSFORD
                                                Assistant Commissioner for
                                                       Public Services and
                                                            Administration

                             [1157 OG 12]