Anyone want to guess how long until they will give 'key escrow' systems special protection? (Actually that would be a good thing, because it would make GAK more expensive :-) ----- http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/sol/notices/terrog.txt ----- Petitioning to Make Special Patent Applications Relating to Inventions For Countering Terrorism New patent applications are normally taken up for examination in the order of their effective United States filing date. However, the Commissioner may provide that a patent application will be advanced out of turn for examination if a petition to make the patent application special under 37 CFR 1.102(c) or (d) is granted. On July 31, 1996, Vice President Gore stated that “[i]t is imperative that those seeking to prevent terrorist activities have all of the tools necessary to accomplish their task.” In view of the importance of developing technologies for countering terrorism and the desirability of prompt disclosure of advances made in these fields, the Patent and Trademark Office is establishing a new category for petitions to accord "special" status to patent applications relating to counter-terrorism inventions. International terrorism as defined in 18 U.S.C. 2331 is “activities that (A) involve violent acts or acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the United States or of any State, or that would be a criminal violation if committed within the jurisdiction of the United States or of any State; (B) appear to be intended (i) to intimidate or coerce a civilian population; (ii) to influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or (iii) to affect the conduct of a government by assassination or kidnaping.” The types of technology for countering terrorism could include, but are not limited to, systems for detecting/identifying explosives, aircraft sensors/security systems, and vehicular barricades/disabling systems. Applications which are made special will be advanced out of turn for examination and will be treated as special throughout their pendency by the Patent and Trademark Office. Applicants who desire that an application relating to inventions for countering terrorism be made special should file a petition, with the fee under 37 CFR 1.17(i) which is presently $130.00, requesting the Patent and Trademark Office to make the application special. The petition for special status should be made in writing, should identify the application by application number and filing date, and should be accompanied by a statement explaining how the invention contributes to countering terrorism. Such statement must be set forth in oath or declaration form unless it is signed by a registered practitioner. The petition will be decided by the Director of the patent examining group to which the application is assigned. This new category for a petition to make an application special will be added in the next revision of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) to the other categories discussed in MPEP section 708.02. Questions concerning this notice should be directed to Magdalen Y. Greenlief, Office of the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Patent Policy and Projects, (703) 305-8813. Bruce A. Lehman Dated: August 19, 1996 Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks