USPTO Considering Three-Dimensional Biological Structural Data Requirement

In an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule Making published on June 21, 2005, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) announced that is considering amending its rules of practice to require submission of chemical and three-dimensional (3–D) biological structural data in electronic format. The USPTO anticipates that requiring submission of chemical and 3–D biological structural data in electronic format in patent applications will improve the processing and examination of patent applications that include such data, as well as the dissemination of such data to searchable public databases. They are therefore soliciting comments on this topic, in the form of responses to the questions posed in the notice, from industry, academia, the patent bars, and members of the public.

To be ensured of consideration, written comments must be received on or before August 22, 2005. No public hearing will be held.