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.