Office of Management and Budget approves USPTO’s new continuation rulesJuly 10, 2007

The Office of Management and Budget has approved the two new rules promulgated by the USPTO relating to continuation applications and examination of claims. Apparently the meetings with various groups did not convince the OMB that the rules were inconsistent with the USPTO's regulatory authority. The rules are rumored to be different than those originally proposed in January 2006. Many in the patent bar did not like the fact that the USPTO did not release a revised set of proposed rules after the USPTO received over 300 comments on the initially proposed rules.

Expect an announcement from the USPTO and accompanying Federal Register notice soon.

Previous coverage of the proposed rules can be found in these posts: March 2, April 30, May 11, and June 20.

Hat tip: Patently-O.