1. Handling Mega Applications Gary Jones SPE, Art Unit 1655 and 1656 (703) 308-1152 gary.jones@uspto.gov

2. What is a mega application? Patent applications having long nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listings

3. What is a long nucleotide and/or amino acid sequence listing? Greater than 300 pages

4. Why Electronic Publication? High cost of printing Limited usefulness of paper copy

5. As of June 2001 Lengthy nucleotide and/or amino acid sequences are no longer included with the paper and composed electronic image (page image) version of patents

6. Sequence Listing Availability USPTO sequence homepage as an ASCII text file http://seqdata.uspto.gov

7. Standard Statement Sequence Listing The patent application contains a lengthy sequence listing section. A copy of the sequence listing is available in electronic form from the USPTO web site

8. Sequence Data Sequence data may also be accessed in a more readily searchable manner from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

9. Paper Copies Neither the paper copies of patents and patent application publications that are in the search rooms nor those sold through Patent and Trademark Copy Sales will include a sequence listing in mega applications

10. Applicant’s Patent The patent mailed to applicant will include a copy of the patent on paper and a copy of the sequence listing on an electronic medium (e.g., compact disc), if the sequence listing is not included in the patent.

11. Advance Copies Any advance copies of such a patent will include only the paper portion of the patent, and applicant will need to specifically request and pay for any additional required electronic copies of sequence listings not printed in the patent.

12. Copy Available The public can obtain an electronic copy or the sequence listing through Patent and Trademark Copy Sales for a separate fee as set forth in 37CFR1.19(b)(3)

13. Patent and Trademark Copy Sales https://www.uspto.gov/oems25p/ (703) 308-9726 (800) 972-6382 fax (703) 308-7048

14. Change in practice Questions regarding this chance in practice should be directed to: Karin Tyson, Senior Legal Advisor Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy (703) 306-3159 karin.tyson@uspto.gov

15. Thank You