ELECTRONIC FILING AND PROCESSING OF PATENT AND TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS.

SEC. 13103. ELECTRONIC FILING AND PROCESSING OF PATENT AND TRADEMARK APPLICATIONS. (a) Electronic Filing and Processing.— The Director shall, beginning not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and during the 3-year period thereafter, develop an electronic system for the filing and processing of patent and trademark applications, that— (1) is user friendly; and (2) includes the necessary infrastructure— (A) to allow examiners and applicants to send all communications electronically; and (B) to allow the Office to process, maintain, and search electronically the contents and history of each application. (b) Authorization of Appropriations.—Of amounts authorized under section 13102, there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out subsection (a) of this section not more than $50,000,000 116 STAT. 1900for each of fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005. Amounts made available pursuant to this subsection shall remain available until expended.