Request for Comments on Methodology for Conducting an Independent Study of the Burden of Patent-Related Paperwork, 8649 [2010-3882]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 37 / Thursday, February 25, 2010 / Notices [FR Doc. 2010–3885 Filed 2–24–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P be made available for public inspection, information that is not desired to be made public, such as an address or phone number, should not be included in the comments. Dated: February 19, 2010. David J. Kappos, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Raul Tamayo, Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Associate Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, at (571) 272–7728. within 30 days of publication of this notice to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, FAX number (202) 395–7285, or David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov. Dated: February 22, 2010. Gwellnar Banks, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2010–3882 Filed 2–24–10; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: While information collection is critical to evidence-based decisions and informed United States Patent and Trademark government operations, unnecessary Office paperwork requirements can impose serious burdens on the public, [Docket No.: PTO–P–2010–0001] especially small entities. The PRA Request for Comments on requires Federal agencies to minimize Methodology for Conducting an the burden on the public resulting from Independent Study of the Burden of their information collections, and to Patent-Related Paperwork maximize the practical utility of the information collected. AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office. As part of its continuing effort to improve the accuracy and transparency ACTION: Request for comments. of its patent-related PRA burden SUMMARY: The United States Patent and estimates, the USPTO retained ICF to Trademark Office (USPTO) retained ICF perform an independent study having International (ICF) to perform an the following three overall objectives: independent study of the burden of (1) Develop an independent, publicly patent-related paperwork, beginning vetted, objectively based estimate of the with a report describing the total cost of paperwork for patent methodologies for performing such a applicants; (2) develop study (Methodology Report). ICF has recommendations for continued now provided the USPTO with its improvement in the accuracy of burden Methodology Report, in which ICF estimates made by the USPTO in the recommends methodologies for future; and (3) identify opportunities to addressing various topics about reduce applicant burdens. ICF’s estimating the patent-related burdens Methodology Report provides concise imposed on the public as reflected in descriptions of the methodologies it information collection requests under recommends for conducting specific the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 inter-related analyses for addressing the (PRA). The USPTO is inviting public comment on ICF’s Methodology Report. three overall objectives. DATES: Written comments must be The specific inter-related analyses received on or before April 12, 2010. will be performed independently by ICF ADDRESSES: Written comments should and will provide impartial, fact-based be sent by electronic mail message over results. The approaches described in the Internet addressed to ICF’s Methodology Report for pra_study_comments@uspto.gov. performing the analyses were developed Comments may also be submitted by independently by ICF, and are ICF’s mail addressed to: Mail Stop recommendations regarding the most Comments—Patents, Commissioner for efficient and effective ways to complete Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA the analyses and to meet the overall 22313–1450, marked to the attention of objectives for the study. Raul Tamayo. Although comments may The USPTO is inviting comments be submitted by mail, the USPTO from the public regarding ICF’s prefers to receive comments via the Methodology Report. The USPTO Internet. posted the Methodology Report on its The written comments will be Internet Web site (https://www.uspto.gov) available for public inspection at the on February 25, 2010, with a notice Office of the Commissioner for Patents, requesting public comment on the located in Madison East, Tenth Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia, Methodology Report and indicating that written comments must be received on and will be available via the USPTO or before April 12, 2010, to receive Internet Web site (address: https:// www.uspto.gov). Because comments will consideration. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:34 Feb 24, 2010 Jkt 220001 8649 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 BILLING CODE 3510–16–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Evaluation of State Coastal Management Programs and National Estuarine Research Reserves AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, National Ocean Service, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of intent to evaluate— rescheduled site visit and public meeting. SUMMARY: The NOAA Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) announces a rescheduled site visit and time for a public meeting previously included in an announcement of intent to evaluate the performance of the Rhode Island Coastal Management Program. Notice was previously given in the Federal Register on Monday, December 7, 2009, of the date of the site visit for the evaluation of the Rhode Island Coastal Management Program and the date, local time, and location of the public meeting. Notice is hereby given of the rescheduled date for the site visit and local time of the public meeting during the site visit. DATE AND TIME: The Rhode Island Coastal Management Program evaluation site visit will be held February 22–26, 2010. One public meeting will be held during the week. The public meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at 6 p.m. in Conference Room A, Department of Administration, One Capitol Hill, Providence, Rhode Island. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Barba, Chief, National Policy and Evaluation Division, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, NOS/NOAA, 1305 East-West Highway, 10th Floor, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910, (301) 563–1182. E:\FR\FM\25FEN1.SGM 25FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 37 (Thursday, February 25, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 8649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3882]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No.: PTO-P-2010-0001]


Request for Comments on Methodology for Conducting an Independent 
Study of the Burden of Patent-Related Paperwork

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office.

ACTION: Request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) retained 
ICF International (ICF) to perform an independent study of the burden 
of patent-related paperwork, beginning with a report describing the 
methodologies for performing such a study (Methodology Report). ICF has 
now provided the USPTO with its Methodology Report, in which ICF 
recommends methodologies for addressing various topics about estimating 
the patent-related burdens imposed on the public as reflected in 
information collection requests under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (PRA). The USPTO is inviting public comment on ICF's Methodology 
Report.

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before April 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by electronic mail message 
over the Internet addressed to pra_study_comments@uspto.gov. Comments 
may also be submitted by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments--
Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-
1450, marked to the attention of Raul Tamayo. Although comments may be 
submitted by mail, the USPTO prefers to receive comments via the 
Internet.
    The written comments will be available for public inspection at the 
Office of the Commissioner for Patents, located in Madison East, Tenth 
Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia, and will be available 
via the USPTO Internet Web site (address: https://www.uspto.gov). 
Because comments will be made available for public inspection, 
information that is not desired to be made public, such as an address 
or phone number, should not be included in the comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raul Tamayo, Legal Advisor, Office of 
Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Associate Commissioner for 
Patent Examination Policy, at (571) 272-7728.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: While information collection is critical to 
evidence-based decisions and informed government operations, 
unnecessary paperwork requirements can impose serious burdens on the 
public, especially small entities. The PRA requires Federal agencies to 
minimize the burden on the public resulting from their information 
collections, and to maximize the practical utility of the information 
collected.
    As part of its continuing effort to improve the accuracy and 
transparency of its patent-related PRA burden estimates, the USPTO 
retained ICF to perform an independent study having the following three 
overall objectives: (1) Develop an independent, publicly vetted, 
objectively based estimate of the total cost of paperwork for patent 
applicants; (2) develop recommendations for continued improvement in 
the accuracy of burden estimates made by the USPTO in the future; and 
(3) identify opportunities to reduce applicant burdens. ICF's 
Methodology Report provides concise descriptions of the methodologies 
it recommends for conducting specific inter-related analyses for 
addressing the three overall objectives.
    The specific inter-related analyses will be performed independently 
by ICF and will provide impartial, fact-based results. The approaches 
described in ICF's Methodology Report for performing the analyses were 
developed independently by ICF, and are ICF's recommendations regarding 
the most efficient and effective ways to complete the analyses and to 
meet the overall objectives for the study.
    The USPTO is inviting comments from the public regarding ICF's 
Methodology Report. The USPTO posted the Methodology Report on its 
Internet Web site (https://www.uspto.gov) on February 25, 2010, with a 
notice requesting public comment on the Methodology Report and 
indicating that written comments must be received on or before April 
12, 2010, to receive consideration.

    Dated: February 19, 2010.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-3882 Filed 2-24-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
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