(152)             Use of International Classification in the
                           Trademark Search Library

The Patent and Trademark Office is proposing to convert the Trademark
Search Library (TMSL) system of classification from the United States
classification system to the International classification system in
1998. Use of the International classification system would provide the
following:
   
o Consistency with the Trademark application pipeline which has not used
the U.S. classification system for many years.
   
o Reduced paper storage requirements, thus allowing more documents to
remain in the fixed amount of space available for the TMSL.
   
o Improved operating efficiency.
   
o Improved paper search files as a result of the decrease in superfluous
copies.
   
Comments on the proposal to convert from the U.S. classification system
to the International classification system may be submitted to Janye
Myers, Acting Director, Center for Patent and Trademark Information,
PK3-441, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, D.C., 20231 for
30 days from the date of this notice.
   
                                [1207 TMOG 59]