USPTO Closed on January 2, 2007

     By Donald Zuhn --

The USPTO announced that the Patent Office will be closed on Tuesday in view of President Bush's proclamation that there be a National Day of Mourning for President Gerald R. Ford on January 2, 2007.  Because the Patent Office will consider Tuesday to be a "Federal holiday" under 35 U.S.C. § 21 and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9, 2.2(d), 2.195, and 2.196, any action or fee due on January 2, 2007 will be considered as being timely filed if the action is taken, or the fee is paid, on Wednesday, January 3, 2007.  Correspondence deposited as Express Mail or transmitted through the patent Electronic Filing System on January 2, 2007 will be considered as filed on the date of deposit or date indicated on the Acknowledgment Receipt.