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g applications for patents is divided
among a number of examining groups, each group having
jurisdiction over certain assigned fields of technology. Each
group is headed by a group director and staffed by a number of
examiners. The examiners review applications for patents and
determine whether patents can be granted. An appeal can be
taken to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences from
their decisions refusing to grant a patent and a review by the
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks may be had on other
matters by petition. The examiners also identify applications
that claim the same invention and initiate proceedings, known
as interferences, to determine who was the first inventor.
In addition to the examining groups, other offices perform
various services, such as receiving and distributing mail,
receiving new applications, handling sales of printed copies of
patents, making copies of records, inspecting drawings, and
recording assignments.
At present, the Patent and Trademark Office has about
4,400 employees, of whom about half are examiners and others
with technical and legal training. Patent applications are
received at the rate of over 170,000 per year. The Patent and
Trademark Office receives over five million pieces of mail each
year.
PUBLICATIONS OF THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Patents--The specification and accompanying drawings of
all patents are published on the same day they are granted and
printed copies are sold to the public by the Patent and
Trademark Office. Over 5,000,000 patents have been issued.
Printed copies of any patent, identified by its patent
number, may be purchased from the Patent and Trademark Office.
See fee schedule.
Future patents classified in subclasses containing subject
matter of interest may be obtained, as they issue, by
prepayment of a deposit and a service charge. For the cost of
such subscription service, a separate inquiry should be sent to
the Patent and Trademark Office.
Official Gazette of the United States Patent and Trademark
Office. -- The Official Gazette of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office is the official journal relating to patents
and trademarks. It has been published weekly since January 1872
(replacing the old "Patent Office Reports"), and is now issued
each Tuesday in two parts, one describing patents and the other
trademarks. h contains a claim and a selected figure of the
drawings of each patent granted on that day; notices of patent
and trademark suits; indexes of patents and patentees, list of
patents available for license or sale; and much general
information such as orders, notices, changes in rules, changes
in classification, etc. The Official Gazette is sold on
subscription and by single copies by the Superintendent of
Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C.
20402.
The illustrations and claims of the patents are arranged
in the Official Gazette according to the Patent and Trademark
Office classification of subject matter, permitting ready
reference to patents in any particular field. Street addresses
of patentees and a geographical index of residents of inventors
are included. Copies of the Official Gazette may be found in
public libraries of larger cities.
Index of Patents. -- This annual index to the Official
Gazette is currently in two volumes, one an index of patentees
and the other an index by subject matter of the patents. Sold
by Superintendent of Documents.
Index of Trademarks. -- An annual index of registrants of
trademarks. Sold by Superintendent of Documents.
Manual of Classification. -- A looseleaf book containing a
list of all the classes and subclasses of inventions in the
Patent and Trademark Office classification systems, a subject
matter index, and other information relating to classification.
Substitute pages are issued from time to time. Annual
subscription includes the basic manual and substitute pages.
Sold by Superintendent of Documents.
Classification Definitions -- Contains the changes in
classification of patents as well as definitions of new and
revised classes and subclasses. Sold by Patent and Trademark
Office.
Title 37 Code of Federal Regulations. -- Includes rules of
practice for Patents, Trademarks and Copyrights. Available from
the Superintendent of Documents.
Basic Facts about Trademarks -- Contains general
information for the layman about applications for, and
registration of, trademarks and service marks. Copies may be
purchased from Superintendent of Documents.
Directory of Registered Patent Attorneys and Agents
Arranged by States and Countries -- An alphabetical and
geographical listing of patent attorneys and agents registered
to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Sold
by Superintendent of Documents.
Manual of Patent Examining Procedure -- A loose
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