The PTO has changed its “final action” practice for patent applications filed prior to June 8, 1995.
New Rules: The next Office action following timely filing of a submission under 37 CFR 1.129(a) will be equivalent to the next Office action following a reply to a non-final Office action. (i.e., the action will be a “final.”)
This change is a further attempt to get rid of the remaining submarine patents.
Link: USPTO Notice