Pilot Program for Extended Time Period To Reply to a Notice To File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application, 76401-76405 [2010-30822]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• Patent and Trademark Office

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 235 (Wednesday, December 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76401-76405]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30822]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No.: PTO-P-2010-0071]


Pilot Program for Extended Time Period To Reply to a Notice To 
File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 
previously published a notice requesting comments on a proposed change 
to missing parts practice in nonprovisional applications. The USPTO has 
considered the comments and is implementing a pilot program (Extended 
Missing Parts Pilot Program) in which an applicant can request a 
twelve-month time period to pay certain fees and to reply to a Notice 
to File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application. Under the Extended 
Missing Parts Pilot Program, applicant must file a nonprovisional 
application within twelve months of the filing date of a provisional 
application and directly claim the benefit of the provisional 
application, as well as submit a certification and request to 
participate in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program with the 
nonprovisional application. In addition, applicant must not file a 
nonpublication request. Applicant will be given a twelve-month period 
to decide whether the nonprovisional application should be completed by 
paying the search fee, the examination fee, any excess claim fees, and 
the surcharge ($130.00 for non-small entity or $65.00 for small entity) 
for the late submission of the search fee and examination fee within 
that twelve-month period. The nonprovisional application will be 
published under the existing eighteen-month publication provisions. 
Therefore, applicant should also submit the basic filing fee, an 
executed oath or declaration, and application papers that are in 
condition for publication, on filing of the application with the 
request to participate in the pilot. If the basic filing fee, an 
executed oath declaration, and/or application papers that are in 
condition for publication are not submitted with the application and 
the request to participate in the pilot, applicant will need to submit 
these items within a two-month (extendable) time period. In view of the 
comments, the USPTO is cautiously moving forward by implementing the 
proposed procedure as a pilot program. Specifically, the pilot program 
will require applicant to submit a certification and request to 
participate in the pilot program, rather than automatically applying 
the procedure to all applicants. The USPTO is providing a certification 
and request form that includes educational information regarding 
domestic benefit claims, foreign filings, patent term adjustment (PTA) 
effects, the need for a complete disclosure of the invention, potential 
increase in fees, and the benefits of submitting a complete set of 
claims. In addition, the USPTO is implementing a number of educational 
initiatives to assist independent inventors and other applicants. The 
Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program will benefit applicants by 
permitting additional time to determine if patent protection should be 
sought--at a relatively low cost--and by permitting applicants to focus 
efforts on commercialization during this period. The Extended Missing 
Parts Pilot Program will benefit the USPTO and the public by adding 
publications to the body of prior art, and by removing from the USPTO's 
workload those nonprovisional applications for which applicants later 
decide not to pursue examination. Applicants are advised that the 
extended missing parts period does not affect the twelve-month priority 
period provided by the Paris Convention for the Protection of 
Industrial Property. Thus, any foreign filings must still be made 
within twelve months of the filing date of the provisional application 
if applicant wishes to rely on the provisional application in the 
foreign-filed application or if protection is desired in a country 
requiring filing within twelve months of the earliest application for 
which rights are left outstanding in order to be entitled to priority.

DATES: Effective Date: December 8, 2010.
    Duration: The Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program will run for 
twelve months from its effective date. Therefore, any certification and 
request to participate in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program must 
be filed before December 8, 2011. The USPTO may extend the pilot 
program (with or

[[Page 76402]]

without modifications) depending on the feedback received and the 
effectiveness of the pilot program.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eugenia A. Jones, Senior Legal 
Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Associate 
Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at (571) 272-
7727, or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments--Patents, 
Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, 
marked to the attention of Eugenia A. Jones.
    Inquiries regarding this notice may be directed to the Office of 
Patent Legal Administration, by telephone at (571) 272-7701, or by 
electronic mail at PatentPractice@uspto.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO published a notice requesting 
comments on a proposed change to missing parts practice in 
nonprovisional applications. See Request for Comments on Proposed 
Change to Missing Parts Practice, 75 FR 16750 (April 2, 2010), 1353 
Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 223 (April 27, 2010). Specifically, the USPTO 
requested comments on whether the missing parts practice should be 
changed to provide applicants with an extended time period to reply to 
a Notice to File Missing Parts requiring fees in a nonprovisional 
application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) that claims the benefit of a 
provisional application and meets certain conditions. The request for 
comments identified a number of potential benefits of such an extended 
time period to reply to a missing parts notice, including increased use 
of the eighteen-month publication system, more time for applicants to 
ascertain the value of their inventions and focus on commercialization 
efforts, and removal of applications from the USPTO's workload.
    The USPTO received over forty comments from intellectual property 
organizations, universities, industry, a law firm, individual patent 
practitioners, and the general public. The USPTO acknowledges and 
appreciates the many comments that were submitted from the intellectual 
property community. The comments from those who will benefit from the 
extended time period were generally positive. Many comments expressed 
concerns over the potential for a loss of rights by some applicants, 
such as independent inventors. The USPTO has considered the written 
comments including those that raised concerns or provided suggestions. 
The USPTO is implementing a change to missing parts practice in 
nonprovisional applications as a pilot program (i.e., Extended Missing 
Parts Pilot Program). The pilot program will allow the USPTO to proceed 
with caution, while placing emphasis on awareness and education of the 
public regarding the program. The USPTO will also be better able to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the program and make modifications or 
eliminate the program as deemed appropriate. Furthermore, those 
applicants who do not wish to participate in the pilot program should 
not be affected by the pilot program and do not need to change their 
practices. The pilot program will require applicant to submit a 
certification and request to participate in the pilot program, rather 
than automatically applying the procedure to all applicants. The USPTO 
is providing a certification and request form that includes educational 
information regarding domestic benefit claims, foreign filings, patent 
term adjustment (PTA) effects, the need for a complete disclosure of 
the invention, potential increase in fees, and the benefits of 
submitting a complete set of claims. In addition, the USPTO is 
implementing a number of educational initiatives to assist independent 
inventors and other applicants. Applicants who do not submit a request 
to participate in the pilot program will continue to receive a Notice 
to File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application that sets a two-
month (extendable) time period to reply to the notice in an application 
that has been accorded a filing date but has items that are missing.
    The USPTO cautions all applicants that, in order to claim the 
benefit of a prior provisional application, the statute requires a 
nonprovisional application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) to be filed 
within twelve months after the date on which the corresponding 
provisional application was filed. See 35 U.S.C. 119(e). It is 
essential that applicants understand that the Extended Missing Parts 
Pilot Program cannot and does not change this statutory requirement.
    It is noted that this notice merely describes agency policy and 
procedures, and does not involve substantive rule making. While the 
missing parts practice in nonprovisional applications is set forth to 
some extent in 37 CFR 1.53(f), the rule does not set forth the specific 
time period that must be given in the notice to applicant that certain 
fees or an oath or declaration are required.
    I. Requirements: In order for an applicant to be provided a twelve-
month (non-extendable) time period to pay the search and examination 
fees and any required excess claims fees in response to a Notice to 
File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application under the Extended 
Missing Parts Pilot Program, the applicant must satisfy the following 
conditions: (1) Applicant must submit a certification and request to 
participate in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program with the 
nonprovisional application on filing, preferably by using Form PTO/SB/
421 entitled ``Certification and Request for Extended Missing Parts 
Pilot Program''; (2) the application must be an original nonprovisional 
utility or plant application filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) within the 
duration of the pilot program; (3) the nonprovisional application must 
directly claim the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 37 CFR 1.78 of a 
prior provisional application filed within the previous twelve months; 
the specific reference to the provisional application must be in the 
first sentence(s) of the specification following the title or in an 
application data sheet under 37 CFR 1.76 (see 37 CFR 1.78(a)(5)); and 
(4) applicant must not have filed a nonpublication request.
    As required for all nonprovisional applications, applicant will 
need to satisfy filing date requirements and publication requirements. 
In accordance with 35 U.S.C. 122(b), the USPTO will publish the 
application promptly after the expiration of eighteen months from the 
earliest filing date to which benefit is sought. Therefore, the 
nonprovisional application should also be in condition for publication 
as provided in 37 CFR 1.211(c). The following are required in order for 
the nonprovisional application to be in condition for publication: (1) 
The basic filing fee; (2) an executed oath or declaration in compliance 
with 37 CFR 1.63; (3) a specification in compliance with 37 CFR 1.52; 
(4) an abstract in compliance with 37 CFR 1.72(b); (5) drawings in 
compliance with 37 CFR 1.84 (if applicable); (6) any application size 
fee required under 37 CFR 1.16(s); (7) any English translation required 
by 37 CFR 1.52(d); and (8) a sequence listing in compliance with 37 CFR 
1.821-1.825 (if applicable). The USPTO also requires any petition under 
37 CFR 1.47 to be granted, any compact disc requirements to be 
satisfied, and an English translation of the provisional application to 
be filed in the provisional application if the provisional application 
was filed in a non-English language and a translation has not yet been 
filed. If the requirements for publication are not met, applicant will 
need to satisfy the publication requirements within a two-month 
extendable time period as discussed in section II of this notice.

[[Page 76403]]

    As noted above, applicants should request participation in the 
Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program by using Form PTO/SB/421. For 
utility patent applications, applicant may file the application and the 
certification and request electronically using the USPTO electronic 
filing system, EFS-Web, and selecting the document description of 
``Certification and Request for Missing Parts Pilot'' for the 
certification and request on the EFS-Web screen. Form PTO/SB/421 will 
be available on the USPTO Web site at https://www.uspto.gov/forms/index.jsp. Information regarding EFS-Web is available on the USPTO Web 
site at https://www.uspto.gov/ebc/index.jsp. The utility application 
including the certification and request to participate in the pilot 
program may also be filed by mail or hand-carried to the USPTO. For 
plant patent applications, applicant must file the application 
including the certification and request to participate in the pilot 
program by mail or hand-carried to the USPTO since plant patent 
applications cannot be filed electronically using EFS-Web. See Legal 
Framework for Electronic Filing System Web (EFS-Web), 74 FR 55200 (Oct. 
27, 2009), 1348 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 394 (Nov. 24, 2009).
    It is strongly recommended that any new applications submitted by 
mail be filed using the ``Express Mail Post Office to Addressee 
service'' of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in accordance with 
37 CFR 1.10 in order for the application to be considered filed with 
the USPTO on the date of deposit with the USPS. If the ``Express Mail'' 
service of the USPS (in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10) is not utilized, 
then the new application can only be accorded the date of actual 
receipt in the USPTO (and there is no remedy for an application that is 
lost in the mail). New applications cannot be submitted by facsimile 
transmission and, if submitted by facsimile transmission, are not 
accorded a filing or receipt date and may be returned to applicant. See 
37 CFR 1.6(d) and 1.8(a)(2)(i)(A).
    II. Processing of Requests: If applicant satisfies the requirements 
(discussed above) on filing of the nonprovisional application and the 
application is in condition for publication, the USPTO will send 
applicant a Notice to File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application 
that sets a twelve-month (non-extendable) time period to submit the 
search fee, the examination fee, any excess claims fees (under 37 CFR 
1.16(h)-(j)), and the surcharge under 37 CFR 1.16(f) (for the late 
submission of the search fee and examination fee). The twelve-month 
time period will run from the mailing date, or notification date for e-
Office Action participants, of the Notice to File Missing Parts. For 
information on the e-Office Action program, see Electronic Office 
Action, 1343 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 45 (June 2, 2009), and https://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/status/e-Office_Action.jsp. After an 
applicant files a timely reply to the Notice to File Missing Parts 
within the twelve-month time period and the nonprovisional application 
is completed, the nonprovisional application will be placed in the 
examination queue based on the actual filing date of the nonprovisional 
application.
    A. Application Not in Condition for Publication: If the application 
papers need to be corrected in order for the application to be in 
condition for publication (such as the specification pages contain 
improper margins or line spacing, or the drawings are not acceptable 
because they are not electronically reproducible), or if the basic 
filing fee or an executed oath or declaration is not submitted on 
filing, and applicant has submitted a certification and request to 
participate in the pilot program, the USPTO will accept the 
certification and request but send a Notice to File Missing Parts of 
Nonprovisional Application that: (1) Sets a two-month (extendable) time 
period for applicant to correct the application papers and/or submit 
the basic filing fee or executed oath or declaration and surcharge (if 
appropriate), and (2) sets a twelve-month (non-extendable) time period 
for applicant to submit the search fee, the examination fee, any excess 
claims fees, and the surcharge for the late filing of the search fee 
and examination fee (if appropriate). If the basic filing fee and/or an 
executed oath or declaration is not submitted on filing, applicant will 
be required to pay the surcharge under 37 CFR 1.16(f) for the late 
filing of the basic filing fee and/or executed oath or declaration 
within the two-month (extendable) time period. Applicants are advised 
that only a single surcharge under 37 CFR 1.16(f) is required in a 
nonprovisional application for filing any of the basic filing fee, the 
executed oath or declaration, the search fee, or the examination fee 
after the filing date of the application.

    Example: On December 15, 2010, applicant files a nonprovisional 
utility application under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) that claims the benefit of a 
prior-filed provisional application filed December 20, 2009. The 
benefit claim to the provisional application is included in the first 
sentence of the specification of the nonprovisional application. The 
nonprovisional application is filed with a ``Certification and Request 
for Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program'' (Form PTO/SB/421). The 
nonprovisional application includes a specification in compliance with 
37 CFR 1.52, drawings in compliance with 37 CFR 1.84, an abstract in 
compliance with 37 CFR 1.72(b), and an executed declaration in 
compliance with 37 CFR 1.63. No fees are submitted with the 
nonprovisional application. Thereafter, on January 3, 2011, the USPTO 
mails a Notice to File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application that 
sets: (1) A two-month (extendable) time period for applicant to submit 
the basic filing fee and the surcharge under 37 CFR 1.16(f), and (2) 
sets a twelve-month (non-extendable) time period for applicant to 
submit the search fee and the examination fee. In order to avoid 
abandonment of the application, applicant would need to either: (1) Pay 
the basic filing fee and the surcharge under 37 CFR 1.16(f) by March 3, 
2011, if payment of the basic filing fee and the surcharge is being 
submitted without a petition for extension of time under 37 CFR 
1.136(a) and extension fee; or (2) pay the basic filing fee and the 
surcharge by no later than August 3, 2011, if submitted with an 
appropriate petition for extension of time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) and 
extension fee. In addition, applicant would need to pay the search fee 
and the examination fee by January 3, 2012, to avoid abandonment of the 
application. Applicant would not need to pay another surcharge with the 
search and examination fees since the surcharge was paid with the basic 
filing fee.

    B. Improper Requests: Requests to participate in the Extended 
Missing Parts Pilot Program will not be accepted in the following 
situations: (1) Where the certification and request is submitted in an 
application that is not eligible for the pilot program; (2) where the 
application is not entitled to a filing date; (3) where the 
certification and request is submitted after the filing date of the 
nonprovisional application; (4) where the nonprovisional application 
does not directly claim the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 37 CFR 
1.78 of a provisional application filed within the previous twelve 
months; and (5) where a nonpublication request is filed with the 
nonprovisional application.
    (1) Application is Not Eligible: Design applications, provisional 
applications, national stage applications under 35 U.S.C. 371, 
international (PCT) applications, reissue applications, and

[[Page 76404]]

reexamination proceedings are excluded from the Extended Missing Parts 
Pilot Program. In these situations, the USPTO will send a Notice to 
File Missing Parts that sets a two-month (extendable) time period to 
submit any missing items including fees.
    (2) No Filing Date: If a nonprovisional application is submitted 
that does not meet the requirements under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) to be 
accorded a filing date, the USPTO will send a Notice of Incomplete 
Application that sets a two-month time limit for applicant to submit 
the items required for a filing date. In the situation where a Notice 
of Incomplete Application is sent, the certification and request to 
participate in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program may be accepted 
once the application is entitled to a filing date if the requirements 
of the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program are met. It should be 
noted, however, that if the nonprovisional application is accorded a 
filing date that is more than twelve months after the provisional 
application's filing date, the certification and request to participate 
will not be accepted since the benefit claim to the provisional 
application would not be proper.
    (3) Untimely Request: If applicant submits the certification and 
request for the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program after the filing 
date of the nonprovisional application, the USPTO will not accept the 
request and the application will not be eligible for the program. 
Therefore, the USPTO will send a Notice to File Missing Parts that sets 
a two-month (extendable) time period to submit any missing items 
including fees.
    (4) No Proper Benefit Claim: If applicant submits a certification 
and request to participate in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program, 
but does not include a claim for the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 
37 CFR 1.78 of a prior provisional application, the USPTO will send 
applicant a Notice to File Missing Parts that only sets a two-month 
time period. In this situation, applicant may submit a proper benefit 
claim of a prior provisional application within four months from the 
filing date of the nonprovisional application if applicant still wants 
a twelve-month time period to submit the search fee, examination fee, 
any excess claims fees, and the surcharge (if appropriate). Applicant 
would need to timely file any other items required in the Notice to 
File Missing Parts. If applicant submits a proper benefit claim within 
four months, the USPTO would send a notice (e.g., a Notice of 
Incomplete Reply) that states applicant has a twelve-month time period 
from the mailing date (or notification date) of the initial Notice to 
File Missing Parts to submit the search fee, examination fee, any 
excess claims fees, and the surcharge (if the surcharge is not required 
for the late filing of the basic filing fee or an executed oath or 
declaration). If it is more than four months from the filing date of 
the nonprovisional application, applicant would most likely need a 
petition under 37 CFR 1.78 to accept an unintentionally delayed claim 
for the benefit of a prior provisional application. Therefore, 
applicants will not be permitted to add or correct the benefit claim 
under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) and 37 CFR 1.78 for the purpose of being 
eligible for the pilot program if it is more than four months from the 
filing date of the nonprovisional application.
    (5) A Nonpublication Request is Filed: If applicant submits a 
nonpublication request and a certification and request to participate 
in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program on filing of the 
application and thus the USPTO sends a Notice to File Missing Parts 
that only sets a two-month time period, applicant may submit a timely 
and properly signed rescission of the nonpublication request (e.g., 
PTO/SB/36) if applicant still wants a twelve-month time period to 
submit the search fee, examination fee, any excess claims fees, and the 
surcharge (if appropriate). Applicant would need to timely file any 
other items required in the Notice to File Missing Parts. If applicant 
submits such a proper rescission of the nonpublication request, the 
USPTO would send a notice (e.g., a Notice of Incomplete Reply) that 
states applicant has a twelve-month time period from the mailing date 
(or notification date) of the initial Notice to File Missing Parts to 
submit the search fee, examination fee, any excess claims fees, and the 
surcharge (if the surcharge is not required for the late filing of the 
basic filing fee or an executed oath or declaration).
    C. Authorization to Charge Fees: If applicant wishes to participate 
in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program, applicant should not 
provide a general authorization to charge fees or a specific 
authorization to charge the search, examination, and/or excess claims 
fees to a deposit account. However, in the rare situation where 
applicant files a proper certification and request to participate in 
the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program with the application on 
filing, and all other requirements set forth in this notice are 
satisfied, but applicant submits an authorization to charge fees to a 
deposit account that covers fees set forth in 37 CFR 1.16, the USPTO 
will: (1) Recognize the certification and request to participate in the 
Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program; (2) provide applicant a twelve-
month (non-extendable) time period to pay the search and examination 
fees, any required excess claims fees, and the surcharge (if 
appropriate) in response to a Notice to File Missing Parts of 
Nonprovisional Application under the Extended Missing Parts Pilot 
Program; and (3) charge the basic filing fee and any required 
application size fee if not otherwise submitted. In this situation, the 
Office will accept the authorization to charge fees to a deposit 
account for any fees that are due, excluding the search and examination 
fees and excess claims fees. Thus, applicant will be eligible for the 
Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program and must reply to the Notice to 
File Missing Parts of Nonprovisional Application under the Extended 
Missing Parts Pilot Program within the twelve-month time period by 
paying the search and examination fees, any required excess claims 
fees, and any required surcharge, to avoid the abandonment of the 
application.
    III. Important Reminders: Applicants are reminded that the 
disclosure of an invention in a provisional application should be as 
complete as possible because the claimed subject matter in the later-
filed nonprovisional application must have support in the provisional 
application in order for the applicant to obtain the benefit of the 
filing date of the provisional application.
    Furthermore, the nonprovisional application as originally filed 
must have a complete disclosure that complies with 35 U.S.C. 112, first 
paragraph, which is sufficient to support the claims submitted on 
filing and any claims submitted later during prosecution. New matter 
cannot be added to an application after the filing date of the 
application. See 35 U.S.C. 132(a). In order to be accorded a filing 
date, a nonprovisional application requires a specification as 
prescribed by 35 U.S.C. 112, which requires the specification to 
conclude with at least one claim, and drawings as prescribed by 35 
U.S.C. 113, which requires drawings if necessary for an understanding 
of the invention. See 35 U.S.C. 111(a). While only one claim is 
required in a nonprovisional application for filing date purposes and 
applicant may file an amendment adding additional claims later during 
prosecution, applicant should consider the benefits of submitting a 
complete set of claims on filing of the nonprovisional application. 
This would reduce the likelihood of adding claims later during 
prosecution

[[Page 76405]]

that contain new matter. Also, if a patent is granted and the patentee 
is successful in litigation against an infringer, provisional rights to 
a reasonable royalty under 35 U.S.C. 154(d) may be available only if 
the claims that are published in the patent application publication are 
substantially identical to the patented claims that are infringed, 
assuming timely actual notice is provided. Thus, the importance of the 
claims that are included in the patent application publication should 
not be overlooked.
    Applicants are also advised that the extended missing parts period 
does not affect the twelve-month priority period provided by the Paris 
Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (Paris 
Convention). Thus, any foreign filings must still be made within twelve 
months of the filing date of the provisional application if applicant 
wishes to rely on the provisional application in the foreign-filed 
application or if protection is desired in a country requiring filing 
within twelve months of the earliest application for which rights are 
left outstanding in order to be entitled to priority.
    The current patent term adjustment (PTA) provisions apply to all 
original utility or plant nonprovisional applications filed on or after 
May 29, 2000, which will include applications under the pilot program. 
Therefore, any PTA accrued by an applicant based on certain 
administrative delays by the USPTO is offset by a reduction for failing 
to reply to a notice by the USPTO within three months. See 37 CFR 
1.704(b). If an applicant replies to a Notice to File Missing Parts 
more than three months after mailing (or notification) of the notice, 
the additional time will be treated as an offset to any positive PTA 
that is accrued by applicant.
    In no event will a reduction under 37 CFR 1.704(b) reduce the 
twenty-year patent term. The ``twenty-year patent term'' refers to the 
term of a patent (other than a design patent) that begins on the date 
the patent issues and ends on the date that is twenty years from the 
date on which the application for patent was filed in the United States 
or, if the application contains a specific reference to an earlier 
filed application or applications under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, or 365(c), 
twenty years from the filing date of the earliest of such 
application(s). See 35 U.S.C. 154(a)(2). Domestic benefit under 35 
U.S.C. 119(e) to one or more provisional applications is not considered 
in the calculation of the twenty-year term. For more information on 
patent term, see section 2701 of the Manual of Patent Examining 
Procedure (MPEP) (8th ed. 2001) (Rev. 2, May 2004).
    Applicants are also reminded that fees are subject to change and 
the fees that are due in an application are the fees in effect at the 
time of fee payment. Therefore, if the search fee, examination fee, 
excess claims fees, and/or the surcharge (or any other fees) have 
increased after the mailing (or notification) of a Notice to File 
Missing Parts that sets a time period to pay such fees, applicant will 
be required to pay the increased fee amounts. Applicants should consult 
the current fee schedule on the USPTO Web site before paying any fees 
that are due.
    Form PTO/SB/421 will include an identification of the requirements 
of the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program as well as various 
acknowledgments regarding the pilot program. Therefore, applicants 
requesting participation in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program 
should be aware of the requirements and the potential drawbacks of the 
pilot program.
    IV. Paperwork Reduction Act: An applicant who wishes to participate 
in the pilot program must submit a certification and request to 
participate in the Extended Missing Parts Pilot Program, preferably by 
using Form PTO/SB/421. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 
determined that, under 5 CFR 1320.3(h), Form PTO/SB/421 does not 
collect ``information'' within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Therefore, this notice does not 
involve information collection requirements which are subject to review 
by OMB.
    The USPTO previously published the notice Missing Parts Practice, 
75 FR 53631 (Sept. 1, 2010), requesting comments on the USPTO's 
proposal to collect information using Form PTO/SB/421. In light of 
OMB's determination that Form PTO/SB/421 does not collect information 
within the meaning of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.), the USPTO is withdrawing the request for comments issued 
in the September 1, 2010 notice.
    V. Additional Information: While the USPTO also requested comments 
on an optional service of having an international style search report 
prepared during the twelve-month extended missing parts period, the 
USPTO is not implementing such a service at this time.

    Dated: November 19, 2010.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2010-30822 Filed 12-7-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P