Implementation of Statute of Limitations Provisions for Office Disciplinary Proceedings, 45247-45251 [2012-18554]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
• United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 31, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45247-45251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-18554]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

37 CFR Part 11

[Docket No. PTO-C-2011-0089]
RIN 0651-AC76


Implementation of Statute of Limitations Provisions for Office 
Disciplinary Proceedings

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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

SUMMARY: The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) requires that 
disciplinary proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office (Office or USPTO) be commenced not later than the earlier of 
either the date that is 10 years after the date on which the misconduct 
forming the basis of the proceeding occurred, or one year from the date 
on which the misconduct forming the basis of the proceeding was made 
known to an officer or employee of the Office, as prescribed in the 
regulations governing disciplinary proceedings. The Office is adopting 
procedural rules which: Specify that a disciplinary complaint shall be 
filed within one year after the date on which the Office of Enrollment 
and Discipline (OED) Director receives a grievance forming the basis of 
the complaint, and in no event more than ten years after the date on 
which the misconduct forming the basis for the proceeding occurred; 
define grievance as a written submission from any source received by 
the OED Director that presents possible grounds for discipline of a 
specified practitioner; and clarify that the one-year time frame for 
filing a complaint may be tolled by written agreement.
    The Office will evaluate these procedures in the future to 
determine their effectiveness. If the new one-year time frame proves to 
be administratively unworkable or impedes the effectiveness of the 
disciplinary process, the Office may issue a new notice of proposed 
rulemaking.

DATES: Effective Date: The changes in this final rule are effective on 
August 30, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William R. Covey, Deputy General 
Counsel for Enrollment and Discipline and Director of the Office of 
Enrollment and Discipline, by telephone at 571-272-4097, or by mail 
addressed to Mail Stop OED, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450,

[[Page 45248]]

marked to the attention of William R. Covey.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Section 32 of Title 35, United States Code, as amended by the AIA, 
requires that a disciplinary proceeding be commenced not later than the 
earlier of either 10 years after the date on which the misconduct 
forming the basis for the proceeding occurred, or one year after the 
date on which the misconduct forming the basis for the proceeding is 
made known to an officer or employee of the Office, as prescribed in 
the regulations established under 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(D). The Office 
previously proposed changes and requested comments in a notice of 
proposed rulemaking to implement this provision of the AIA. See 
Implementation of Statute of Limitations Provisions for Office 
Disciplinary Proceedings, 77 FR 457 (January 5, 2012).
    Prior to the AIA's amendment to 35 U.S.C. 32, disciplinary actions 
for violations of the USPTO Code of Professional Responsibility were 
generally understood to be subject to a five-year statute of 
limitations pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2462. See, e.g., Sheinbein v. Dudas, 
465 F.3d 493, 496 (Fed. Cir. 2006). With the AIA's new 10-year 
limitation period, Congress provided the Office with five additional 
years to bring an action, thus ensuring that the Office had additional 
flexibility to initiate ``a [disciplinary] proceeding for the vast bulk 
of misconduct that is discovered, while also staying within the limits 
of what attorneys can reasonably be expected to remember,'' 
Congressional Record S1372-1373 (daily ed. March 8, 2011) (statement of 
Sen. Kyl). Therefore, the new 10-year limitation period indicates 
congressional intent to extend the time permitted to file a 
disciplinary action against a practitioner who violates the USPTO Code 
of Professional Responsibility, rather than to allow such actions to 
become time-barred. See id. at S1372 (``[a] strict five-year statute of 
limitations that runs from when the misconduct occurs, rather than from 
when it reasonably could have been discovered, would appear to preclude 
a section 32 proceeding for a significant number of cases of serious 
misconduct''). The one-year period in the AIA reflects that 
disciplinary actions should be filed in a timely manner from the date 
when misconduct forming the basis of a disciplinary complaint against a 
practitioner is made known to ``that section of PTO charged with 
conducting section 32 proceedings,'' Congressional Record S1372 (daily 
ed. March 8, 2011) (statement of Sen. Kyl).
    Under 35 U.S.C. 32, the Office may take disciplinary action against 
any person, agent, or attorney who fails to comply with the regulations 
established under 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(D). Procedural regulations 
governing the investigation of possible grounds for discipline and the 
conduct of disciplinary proceedings are set forth at 37 CFR 11.19 et 
seq. The Office initiates disciplinary proceedings via three types of 
disciplinary complaints: Complaints predicated on the receipt of a 
probable cause determination from the Committee on Discipline; 
complaints seeking reciprocal discipline; and complaints seeking 
interim suspension based on a serious crime conviction.

OED Investigatory Process

    As explained in the previous notice of proposed rulemaking, there 
are four steps taken by the OED Director prior to the filing of a Sec.  
11.32 disciplinary complaint against a practitioner: (1) Preliminary 
screening of the allegations made against the practitioner, see Sec.  
11.22(d); (2) requesting information from the practitioner about his or 
her alleged conduct, see Sec.  11.22(f)(1)(ii); (3) conducting a 
thorough investigation after providing the practitioner an opportunity 
to respond to the allegations, see Sec.  11.22(a); and (4) submitting 
the investigated case to the Committee on Discipline for a 
determination of whether there is probable cause to bring charges 
against the practitioner, see Sec.  11.32.

Discussion of Specific Rule

    Section 11.1 is revised to add a definition of grievance. 
Specifically, a grievance means a written submission from any source 
received by the OED Director that presents possible grounds for 
discipline of a specified practitioner. The written submission need not 
be submitted by an aggrieved client or any other specific person. 
Regardless of the source, written information or evidence received by 
the OED Director which presents specific information indicating 
possible grounds for discipline of an identified practitioner will be 
deemed a grievance. The definition of grievance set forth in Sec.  11.1 
applies to OED disciplinary matters only. It does not affect the 
meaning of ``grievance'' in other contexts, such as procedures the 
USPTO administers by which employees may request personal relief in a 
matter of concern or dissatisfaction regarding their employment.
    OED makes staff attorneys available for telephone inquiries from 
practitioners and the public. Staff attorneys are not permitted to 
provide advisory opinions, but they will identify disciplinary rules 
that could impact a particular situation. A practitioner then may 
review the matter, perhaps with private counsel, to ensure the 
practitioner's conduct complies with ethical obligations. Many 
inquiries from the public result from poor communication between the 
practitioner and the client or unclear expectations, and a caller may 
decide not to submit a grievance after further consideration. To avoid 
discouraging practitioners from contacting OED for guidance, and to 
prevent opening investigations prematurely, a telephone inquiry or 
report to OED is not a grievance. This is consistent with Office rules 
that require all business with the Office be conducted in writing. See 
37 CFR 1.2.
    The rule requires that a grievance be written but does not specify 
a format for the submission. Although typed submissions are preferred, 
a handwritten note accompanied by relevant documents is permitted. 
Regardless of the format, in order to satisfy the definition of 
grievance, the submission must identify the practitioner alleged to 
have engaged in misconduct and present information or evidence 
sufficient to enable the OED Director to determine whether possible 
grounds for discipline exist. Allegations in submissions unsupported by 
information or evidence may be insufficient to present possible grounds 
for discipline.
    This definition specifies the OED Director as the officer or 
employee of the Office to whom misconduct forming the basis of a 
disciplinary proceeding must be made known, which is consistent with 
the legislative history of the AIA's amendment to 35 U.S.C. 32. See 
Congressional Record S1372 (daily ed. March 8, 2011) (statement from 
Sen. Kyl: ``A section 32 proceeding must be initiated * * * within 1 
year of when the misconduct is reported to that section of the PTO 
charged with conducting section 32 proceedings * * *'') (emphasis 
added). OED is charged with conducting section 32 proceedings.
    Practitioners are required to notify the OED Director within 30 
days of being disciplined by another jurisdiction, 37 CFR 11.24(a), or 
being convicted of a crime, 37 CFR 11.25. Notification pursuant to 
those rules will be treated as a grievance under 37 CFR 11.1 and 
11.34(d).
    Section 11.22 is revised to delete and reserve subsection (c), 
which previously specified that information or evidence coming from any 
source which presents

[[Page 45249]]

or alleges facts suggesting possible grounds for discipline would be 
deemed a grievance. This language is redundant in view of the 
definition of grievance now set forth in Sec.  11.1.
    Section 11.34 is revised to add subsection (d), which specifies the 
time in which the OED Director may file a disciplinary complaint 
against an individual subject to the disciplinary authority of the 
Office. Specifically, a complaint shall be filed within one year after 
the date on which the OED Director receives a grievance forming the 
basis of the complaint, and no complaint shall be filed more than ten 
years after the date on which the misconduct forming the basis for the 
proceeding occurred. The Office recognizes that this limited one-year 
period may require the filing of a complaint in circumstances where the 
matter might be resolved with additional time to conduct further 
investigation or for the Office and practitioner to discuss an 
appropriate resolution of the matter. In appropriate cases such as 
these, the practitioner should be permitted to voluntarily enter into a 
tolling agreement in order to avoid the quick filing of a complaint and 
subsequent litigation. Accordingly, subsection (e) is added to clarify 
that the one-year period for filing a complaint may be tolled by a 
written agreement between the involved practitioner and the OED 
Director. The Office agrees that tolling agreements may provide both 
the Office and the practitioner with additional time to resolve matters 
without a complaint.
    The OED Director may receive multiple grievances concerning an 
individual practitioner. Where these grievances are received close in 
time, the OED Director may file a single complaint reflecting the 
multiple grievances. As a result, a complaint may be based on more than 
one grievance, and the complaint may reflect multiple one-year dates 
under 35 U.S.C. 32. Failure to meet the one-year date as to one 
grievance does not prevent a proceeding from going forward based on 
other grievances.

Changes From the Proposed Rule

    The Office previously published a notice of proposed rulemaking 
titled ``Implementation of Statute of Limitations Provisions for Office 
Disciplinary Proceedings.'' 77 FR 457 (January 5, 2012). Under the 
proposed regulation, the one-year period set forth in 35 U.S.C. 32 
would have commenced for Sec.  11.32 actions when the OED Director 
received a practitioner's complete, written response to a Sec.  
11.22(f)(1)(ii) request for information and evidence issued by OED in 
response to a grievance.
    The proposed regulation is not being adopted. Although the Office 
believes that the proposed rule was reasonable and within its authority 
under 35 U.S.C. 32, in view of the comments expressing a preference 
that a disciplinary proceeding be commenced one year from the date the 
OED Director receives a grievance, the Office has decided to implement 
a one-year time frame from the date of the OED Director's receipt of a 
grievance. The Office believes that this specified date is likely to 
promote effective and efficient disciplinary processing and aid 
grievants and practitioners in understanding OED's time frame for 
completing disciplinary investigations. In addition, tolling agreements 
may provide both the Office and the practitioner with sufficient time 
to resolve matters in appropriate cases. Accordingly, the Office adopts 
three rules to administer the new procedure. The new rules specify: (1) 
A disciplinary complaint shall be filed within one year after the date 
on which the OED Director receives a grievance forming the basis of the 
complaint, and in no event more than ten years after the date on which 
the misconduct forming the basis for the proceeding occurred, (2) a 
grievance is defined as a written submission from any source received 
by the OED Director that presents possible grounds for discipline of a 
specified practitioner, and (3) the one-year period for filing a 
complaint may be tolled by written agreement.

Comments and Responses to the Proposed Rule

    Five entities submitted written comments to the January 5, 2012 
notice of proposed rulemaking.
    Comment 1: One entity indicated the proposed rule is consistent 
with the statute and the intent of Congress, and agreed that the 
proposed rule best recognizes the competing concerns of practitioners, 
the Office, and the public.
    Response to Comment 1: The Office appreciates this comment with 
respect to the proposed rule. However, as a result of public comments 
and for administrative purposes, the Office has decided to issue a 
final rule that requires a complaint under Sec.  11.34, regardless of 
whether the complaint originated through the provisions of Sec.  11.24, 
Sec.  11.25, or Sec.  11.32, shall be filed within one year after the 
date on which the OED Director receives a grievance forming the basis 
of the complaint, and in no event more than ten years after the date on 
which the misconduct forming the basis for the proceeding occurred.
    Comment 2: One comment stated that the proposed addition of Sec.  
11.22(f)(3) was redundant in view of Sec.  11.22(f)(1)(ii), which 
authorized the OED Director to request information and evidence from a 
practitioner. The comment agreed with proposed Sec.  11.34(d)(1) and 
(d)(2) regarding actions under Sec.  11.24 (reciprocal discipline) and 
Sec.  11.25 (interim suspension and discipline for serious crimes), 
respectively. With respect to proposed Sec.  11.34(d)(3) regarding 
actions brought under Sec.  11.32, the comment agreed that ``[b]efore 
any decision can be made to determine whether possible grounds for 
discipline exist and that an investigation is warranted, it is 
necessary * * * to get the practitioner's side of the story first.'' 
The comment recommended a procedure whereby OED would first request 
comments from the practitioner concerning a grievance before opening an 
investigation. If no response is received, the OED Director could 
initiate a disciplinary action for the practitioner's failure to 
cooperate. After a response is received from the practitioner, OED 
would determine whether an investigation is warranted. If so, OED would 
send a notice of investigation pursuant to current Sec.  11.22(e). The 
one-year period would start with the mailing date of the Sec.  11.22(e) 
notice.
    Response to Comment 2: The proposed addition of Sec.  11.22(f)(3) 
would have required the OED Director to issue a request for information 
and evidence prior to convening the Committee on Discipline. This 
proposal has not been adopted in view of the changes to this final 
rule. The Office elected not to adopt the proposal to initiate the one-
year period with the mailing of the notice of investigation in favor of 
the final rule.
    Comment 3: One comment maintained that the proposed rule was not 
consistent with the plain language of the statute, and suggested that 
``once a responsible officer or employee of the PTO under [35 U.S.C. 3] 
(i.e., PTO Director, Commissioner, attorney or patent examiner) becomes 
aware of the potentially offending conduct, the Office has one year 
from that date to commence a disciplinary proceeding.'' (emphasis in 
original). The comment also indicated that the basic notion of fairness 
to the practitioner, which was a primary purpose of the proposed 
regulation, could be served by tolling agreements between the 
practitioner and OED to allow practitioners additional time to respond 
to requests for information.
    Response to Comment 3: The legislative history does not support the

[[Page 45250]]

proposition that notice to any officer or employee of the Office should 
trigger the one-year statute of limitations. See, Congressional Record 
S1372 (daily ed. March 8, 2011) (statement from Sen. Kyl: ``A section 
32 proceeding must be initiated * * * within 1 year of when the 
misconduct is reported to that section of the PTO charged with 
conducting section 32 proceedings * * * '') (emphasis added). OED is 
charged with conducting section 32 proceedings. Information received by 
an employee outside of OED, whether that employee is mail room staff, a 
data entry clerk, or a patent examiner, is not sufficient to trigger 
the one-year period for commencing a disciplinary action.
    With regard to the comment that the proposed rule was not 
consistent with the plain language of the statute, 35 U.S.C. 32, as 
amended by the AIA, requires that a disciplinary proceeding be 
``commenced not later than the earlier of either the date that is 10 
years after the date on which the misconduct forming the basis for the 
proceeding occurred, or one year after the date on which the misconduct 
forming the basis for the proceeding is made known to an officer or 
employee of the Office as prescribed in the regulations established 
under 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(D).'' (emphasis added). The Office believes the 
proposed rule is reasonable and fully consistent with the AIA. However, 
in response to comments requesting that the one-year period begin on 
the date the OED Director receives a grievance, the Office has decided 
to adopt rules setting forth a one-year time frame for completion of 
disciplinary investigations from the date the OED Director receives a 
grievance.
    The Office agrees that tolling agreements should address the 
concerns of a practitioner who needs additional time to respond to a 
request for information before a complaint is brought. OED intends to 
utilize such tolling agreements in appropriate circumstances. Under 
Sec.  11.34(e), the one-year period for filing a complaint under Sec.  
11.34(d) shall be tolled if the practitioner and the OED Director agree 
in writing to such tolling.
    Comment 4: With regard to actions brought under Sec.  11.32, one 
comment questioned whether it was necessary to require that a grievance 
be received by the OED Director, and contended that, ``[a]t a bare 
minimum, when a complaint against a practitioner has been made to the 
OED, the misconduct forming the basis of the proceeding has been made 
known to an officer or employee of the USPTO as required by the 
statute.'' The comment also suggested that tolling agreements could be 
utilized in situations where a practitioner needs additional time to 
respond to a request for information. The comment further indicated 
that the provisions in the proposed rule concerning reciprocal 
discipline under Sec.  11.24 and interim suspensions for serious crimes 
under Sec.  11.25 required too much formality.
    Response to Comment 4: As to Sec.  11.32 actions, the Office 
incorporates the response to comment 3. With regard to Sec.  11.24 and 
Sec.  11.25 actions, the proposed rule is not being adopted. Instead, 
the new rules will also apply to Sec.  11.24 and Sec.  11.25 actions.
    Comment 5: One comment asserted that the statute requires the 
Office to complete the initial process ``within one year from the time 
an investigation is commenced.'' The comment also stated that ``[u]nder 
the statute, once [misconduct upon which a complaint is ultimately 
based] is brought to the attention of the Office, it has one year to 
investigate and file a complaint.''
    Response to Comment 5: The Office incorporates the response to 
comment 3.

Rulemaking Considerations

    Administrative Procedure Act: This final rule changes the Office's 
procedural rules governing disciplinary proceedings. These changes 
involve rules of agency practice and procedure and/or interpretive 
rules. See Bachow Communication, Inc. v. FCC, 237 F.3d 683, 690 (D.C. 
Cir. 2001) (rules governing an application process are procedural under 
the Administrative Procedure Act); Inova Alexandria Hosp. v. Shalala, 
244 F.3d 342, 350 (4th Cir. 2001) (rules for handling appeals were 
procedural where they did not change the substantive standard for 
reviewing claims); Nat'l Org. of Veterans' Advocates v. Sec'y of 
Veterans Affairs, 260 F.3d 1365, 1375 (Fed. Cir. 2001) (rule that 
clarifies interpretation of a statute is interpretive).
    Accordingly, prior notice and opportunity for public comment are 
not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b) or (c) (or any other law), and 
thirty-day advance publication is not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
553(d) (or any other law). See Cooper Techs. Co. v. Dudas, 536 F.3d 
1330, 1336-37 (Fed. Cir. 2008) (stating that 5 U.S.C. 553, and thus 35 
U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(B), do not require notice and comment rulemaking for 
``interpretative rules, general statements of policy, or rules of 
agency organization, procedure, or practice'') (quoting 5 U.S.C. 
553(b)(A)). The Office, however, published proposed changes for comment 
as it sought the benefit of the public's views on the Office's proposed 
implementation of this provision of the Leahy-Smith America Invents 
Act.
    Regulatory Flexibility Act: As prior notice and an opportunity for 
public comment are not required pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 or any other 
law, neither a regulatory flexibility analysis nor a certification 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) is 
required. See 5 U.S.C. 603. Nevertheless, the Deputy General Counsel 
for General Law of the United States Patent and Trademark Office has 
certified to the Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business 
Administration, that the changes in this final rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities 
(Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b)). Such a certification was 
made at the proposed rule stage and no comments were received on that 
certification.
    The primary purpose of the final rule is to establish regulations 
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(D) that govern time limits for the Office 
to commence a disciplinary action. This final rule does not increase or 
change the burdens of practitioners involved in disciplinary 
proceedings or the investigation process. There are more than 41,000 
individuals registered to practice before the Office in patent matters 
and many unregistered attorneys who practice before the Office in 
trademark matters. In a typical year, the Office considers 
approximately 150 to 200 matters concerning possible misconduct by 
individuals who practice before the Office in patent and/or trademark 
matters, and fewer than 100 matters per year lead to a formal 
disciplinary proceeding or settlement. Thus, only a relatively small 
number of individuals are involved in the disciplinary process. 
Additionally, based on the Office's experience in investigations that 
precede the disciplinary process, the Office does not anticipate this 
final rule will result in a significant increase, if any, in the number 
of individuals who are impacted by a disciplinary proceeding or 
investigation. Accordingly, the changes in this final rule will not 
have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small 
entities.
    Executive Order 13132 (Federalism): This rulemaking does not 
contain policies with federalism implications sufficient to warrant 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment under Executive Order 13132 
(August 4, 1999).
    Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review): This 
rulemaking has been determined to be not significant for purposes of 
Executive Order 12866 (September 30, 1993).

[[Page 45251]]

    Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review): 
The Office has complied with Executive Order 13563. Specifically, the 
Office has, to the extent feasible and applicable: (1) Made a reasoned 
determination that the benefits justify the costs of the rule; (2) 
tailored the rule to impose the least burden on society consistent with 
obtaining the regulatory objectives; (3) selected a regulatory approach 
that maximizes net benefits; (4) specified performance objectives; (5) 
identified and assessed available alternatives; (6) involved the public 
in an open exchange of information and perspectives among experts in 
relevant disciplines, affected stakeholders in the private sector and 
the public as a whole, and provided on-line access to the rulemaking 
docket; (7) attempted to promote coordination, simplification, and 
harmonization across government agencies and identified goals designed 
to promote innovation; (8) considered approaches that reduce burdens 
and maintain flexibility and freedom of choice for the public; and (9) 
ensured the objectivity of scientific and technological information and 
processes.
    Executive Order 13175 (Tribal Consultation): This rulemaking will 
not: (1) Have substantial direct effects on one or more Indian tribes; 
(2) impose substantial direct compliance costs on Indian tribal 
governments; or (3) preempt tribal law. Therefore, a tribal summary 
impact statement is not required under Executive Order 13175 (Nov. 6, 
2000).
    Executive Order 13211 (Energy Effects): This rulemaking is not a 
significant energy action under Executive Order 13211 because this 
rulemaking is not likely to have a significant adverse effect on the 
supply, distribution, or use of energy. Therefore, a Statement of 
Energy Effects is not required under Executive Order 13211 (May 18, 
2001).
    Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform): This rulemaking meets 
applicable standards to minimize litigation, eliminate ambiguity, and 
reduce burden as set forth in sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive 
Order 12988 (Feb. 5, 1996).
    Executive Order 13045 (Protection of Children): This rulemaking 
does not concern an environmental risk to health or safety that may 
disproportionately affect children under Executive Order 13045 (Apr. 
21, 1997).
    Executive Order 12630 (Taking of Private Property): This rulemaking 
will not effect a taking of private property or otherwise have taking 
implications under Executive Order 12630 (Mar. 15, 1988).
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995: The changes in this final 
rule do not involve a Federal intergovernmental mandate that will 
result in the expenditure by State, local, and tribal governments, in 
the aggregate, of 100 million dollars (as adjusted) or more in any one 
year, or a Federal private sector mandate that will result in the 
expenditure by the private sector of 100 million dollars (as adjusted) 
or more in any one year, and will not significantly or uniquely affect 
small governments. Therefore, no actions are necessary under the 
provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. See 2 U.S.C. 
1501 et seq.
    National Environmental Policy Act: This rulemaking will not have 
any effect on the quality of the environment and is thus categorically 
excluded from review under the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969. See 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.
    National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act: The requirements 
of section 12(d) of the National Technology Transfer and Advancement 
Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) are not applicable because this 
rulemaking does not contain provisions which involve the use of 
technical standards.
    Paperwork Reduction Act: This rulemaking does not create any 
information collection requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall a person be 
subject to a penalty for failure to comply with, a collection of 
information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB 
control number.
    Congressional Review Act: Under the Congressional Review Act 
provisions of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 
1996 (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.), prior to issuing any final rule, the USPTO 
will submit a report containing the final rule and other required 
information to the United States Senate, the United States House of 
Representatives, and the Comptroller General of the Government 
Accountability Office. However, this action is not a major rule as 
defined by 5 U.S.C. 804(2).

List of Subjects in 37 CFR Part 11

    Administrative practice and procedure, Inventions and patents, 
Lawyers, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, the United States Patent 
and Trademark Office amends 37 CFR part 11 as follows:

PART 11--REPRESENTATION OF OTHERS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES PATENT 
AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

0
1. The authority citation for 37 CFR part 11 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 500, 15 U.S.C. 1123, 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 32, 
41.


0
2. Section 11.1 is amended by adding a definition of grievance in 
alphabetical order to read as follows:


Sec.  11.1  Definitions.

* * * * *
    Grievance means a written submission from any source received by 
the OED Director that presents possible grounds for discipline of a 
specified practitioner.
* * * * *


Sec.  11.22  [Amended]

0
3. Section 11.22 is amended by removing and reserving paragraph (c).

0
4. Section 11.34 is amended by adding paragraphs (d) and (e) to read as 
follows:


Sec.  11.34  Complaint.

* * * * *
    (d) Time for filing a complaint. A complaint shall be filed within 
one year after the date on which the OED Director receives a grievance 
forming the basis of the complaint. No complaint shall be filed more 
than ten years after the date on which the misconduct forming the basis 
for the proceeding occurred.
    (e) Tolling agreements. The one-year period for filing a complaint 
under paragraph (d) of this section shall be tolled if the involved 
practitioner and the OED Director agree in writing to such tolling.

    Dated: July 24, 2012.
David J. Kappos,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2012-18554 Filed 7-30-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P