Notice on Roundtable on International Harmonization of Substantive Patent Law, 56070-56071 [2014-22222]

Download as PDF asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 56070 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 181 / Thursday, September 18, 2014 / Notices • Impacts on habitat affecting rates of recruitment/survival; and • The effectiveness of monitoring and mitigation measures to reduce the number or severity of incidental take. For reasons stated previously in this document and based on the following factors, Glacier Bay NP’s specified activities are not likely to cause longterm behavioral disturbance, permanent threshold shift, or other non-auditory injury, serious injury, or death. These reasons include: 1. The effects of the research activities would be limited to short-term startle responses and localized behavioral changes due to the short and sporadic duration of the research activities. Minor and brief responses, such as short-duration startle or alert reactions, are not likely to constitute disruption of behavioral patterns, such as migration, nursing, breeding, feeding, or sheltering. 2. The availability of alternate areas for pinnipeds to avoid the resultant acoustic and visual disturbances from the research operations. Anecdotal reports from previous Glacier Bay NP activities have shown that the pinnipeds returned to the various sites and did not permanently abandon haul-out sites after Glacier Bay NP conducted their research activities. 3. The low potential for large-scale movements leading to injury, serious injury, or mortality because the researchers would delay ingress into the landing areas only after the pinnipeds have slowly entered the water. 4. Glacier Bay NP limiting access to Boulder, Lone, and Flapjack Islands, and Geikie Rock if more than 25 animals are present or if Steller sea lions are present in the research areas. NMFS does not anticipate that any injuries, serious injuries, or mortalities would occur as a result of Glacier Bay’s proposed activities, and NMFS does not propose to authorize injury, serious injury, or mortality at this time. Due to the nature, degree, and context of Level B (behavioral) harassment anticipated and described (see ‘‘Potential Effects on Marine Mammals’’ section in the in the notice of proposed authorization (79 FR 32226, June 4, 2014), we do not expect the activity to impact rates of recruitment or survival for any affected species or stock. In addition, the research activities would not take place in areas of significance for marine mammal feeding, resting, breeding, or calving and would not adversely impact marine mammal habitat. NMFS finds that Glacier Bay NP’s proposed activities will have a negligible impact on the affected species or stocks based on the analysis VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Sep 17, 2014 Jkt 232001 contained in this notice of the likely effects of the specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into consideration the implementation of the mitigation and monitoring measures. Small Numbers As mentioned previously, NMFS estimates that Glacier Bay NP’s activities could potentially affect, by Level B harassment only, one species of marine mammal under our jurisdiction. For harbor seals, this estimate is small (12.6 percent) relative to the population size. Based on the analysis contained in this notice of the likely effects of the specified activity on marine mammals and their habitat, and taking into consideration the implementation of the mitigation and monitoring measures, NMFS finds that Glacier Bay NP’s proposed activities would take small numbers of marine mammals relative to the populations of the affected species or stocks. Impact on Availability of Affected Species or Stock for Taking for Subsistence Uses There are no relevant subsistence uses of marine mammals implicated by this action. Glacier Bay National Park prohibits subsistence harvest of harbor seals within the Park (Catton, 1995). Endangered Species Act (ESA) NMFS does not expect that Glacier Bay NP’s proposed research activities would affect any species listed under the ESA. Therefore, NMFS has determined that a section 7 consultation under the ESA is not required. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) To meet our NEPA requirements for the issuance of an Authorization to Glacier Bay NP, we prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) titled, ‘‘Environmental Assessment for the Issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization To Take Marine Mammals by Harassment Incidental to Conducting Seabird Research in Glacier Bay Alaska.’’ We provided relevant environmental information to the public through a previous notice for the proposed Authorization (79 FR 32226, June 4, 2014) and considered public comments received in response prior to finalizing our EA and deciding whether or not to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). We conclude that issuance of an Incidental Harassment Authorization would not significantly affect the quality of the human environment and PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 have issued a FONSI. Our EA and FONSI for this activity are available upon request (see ADDRESSES). Authorization As a result of these determinations, we have issued an Incidental Harassment Authorization to Glacier Bay National Park for conducting seabird research September 1 through September 30, 2014, provided they incorporate the previously mentioned mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements. Dated: September 15, 2014. Perry F. Gayaldo, Deputy Director, Office of Protected Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service. [FR Doc. 2014–22269 Filed 9–17–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–22–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO–P–2014–0046] Notice on Roundtable on International Harmonization of Substantive Patent Law United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of roundtable. AGENCY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is seeking input on certain matters relating to the international harmonization of substantive patent law. In view of the importance of harmonization of substantive patent law to the successful reutilization of the examination work of one intellectual property office by another, or work sharing, the USPTO is particularly interested in stakeholder comments on the following key patent examination-related issues: The definition and scope of prior art; the grace period; and standards for assessing novelty and obviousness/ inventive step. To assist in gathering this information, the USPTO is holding a public roundtable which interested members of the public are invited to attend. DATES: The roundtable will be held on November 19, 2014. The roundtable will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. ADDRESSES: The roundtable will be held at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the roundtable, please contact Summer SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM 18SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 181 / Thursday, September 18, 2014 / Notices asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Kostelnik or Elizabeth Shaw at the Office of Policy and International Affairs, by telephone at (571) 272–9300, by email at IP.Policy@uspto.gov, or by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop OPIA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450, ATTN: Summer Kostelnik or Elizabeth Shaw. Please direct all media inquiries to the Office of the Chief Communications Officer, USPTO, at (571) 272–8400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Background The United States has participated in several international efforts to harmonize substantive patent law across different jurisdictions. The most recent discussions toward this end have been conducted under the auspices of the ‘‘Tegernsee Group,’’ which is comprised of the leaders and patent law experts from the patent offices of Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as from the European Patent Office. The Group was formed in 2011 to consider the state of patent law harmonization and to facilitate progress toward greater harmonization by means of fact finding and information gathering. The Group published a Final Report in June 2014, consolidating stakeholder views on key issues across various jurisdictions. The Final Report, entitled ‘‘Consolidated Report on the Tegernsee User Consultation on Substantive Patent Law Harmonization,’’ is available for review at https://www.uspto.gov/ip/global/ patents/tegernsee_survey/teg-final_ consol_report_june_2014.pdf. The Tegernsee Group is currently on hiatus pending further developments. In parallel with the Tegernsee Group discussions and earlier efforts focused on substantive harmonization, the USPTO has also been engaged with other patent offices on several work sharing initiatives, such as the Patent Prosecution Highway. Work sharing allows one office to leverage work done by another office on a corresponding application in order to improve quality and reduce duplicative search and examination efforts. Substantive harmonization can enhance the effectiveness of work sharing by better aligning the patentability standards of the various offices, thereby making it easier for those offices to use one another’s work. 2. Issues for Public Comment Past studies and experiences indicate that the areas of substantive law that are most relevant for work-sharing purposes are those related to the search and application of prior art. That is because VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:27 Sep 17, 2014 Jkt 232001 prior art is determinative of patentability in most cases, and because prior art searching is a critical aspect of the examination process. Accordingly, the USPTO is particularly interested in stakeholder views on the following key patent examination-related issues: The definition and scope of prior art; the grace period; and standards for assessing novelty and obviousness/ inventive step. The roundtable will begin with an introduction on the current state of play of substantive harmonization efforts including an update on the work of the Tegernsee Group. The roundtable will continue with a panel discussion consisting of two sessions. The first session will include a discussion on the substantive harmonization issues most suitable for further progress, with a particular focus on those key patent examination-related issues: Definition of prior art; prior art effect of published applications; prior art not affecting patentability (grace period), and conditions for patentability—novelty and obviousness/inventive step. During the second session, the USPTO is interested in hearing stakeholder views as to how to best advance substantive patent law harmonization discussions. Time will be reserved at the end of each session for interested members of the public to comment upon the topics discussed. Individuals interested in serving as a panelist should submit their name, contact information (telephone number and email address), the name of the organization(s) the person represents, if any, relevant biographical information as it pertains to the topic(s) to be discussed during the session(s), and a few brief comments on the topic(s) to IP.Policy@uspto.gov before October 24, 2014. Panelists will be selected approximately two weeks in advance of the roundtable. Instructions and Information on the Public Roundtable The roundtable will be held on November 19, 2014, at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The roundtable will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. The agenda and Web cast information will be available a week before the roundtable on the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs Web site at https:// www.uspto.gov/ip/officechiefecon/ hearings_round_tables.jsp. Registration is available at https:// events.SignUp4.com/Patharm. Attendees may also register at the door. Sign in will commence at 8:00 a.m. prior to the beginning of the roundtable. PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56071 The roundtable will be physically accessible to people with disabilities. Individuals requiring accommodation, such as sign language interpretation or other ancillary aids, should communicate their needs to Hollis Robinson at the Office of Policy and International Affairs, by telephone at (571) 272–9300, by email at hollis.robinson@uspto.gov, or by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop OPIA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450, ATTN: Hollis Robinson, at least seven (7) business days prior to the roundtable. Dated: September 12, 2014. Michelle K. Lee, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2014–22222 Filed 9–17–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Applications for New Awards; Preschool Development Grants— Expansion Grants; Correction Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services. ACTION: Notice; correction. AGENCIES: Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.419B. On August 18, 2014, the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services published in the Federal Register (79 FR 48874) a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year 2014 for the Preschool Development Grants—Expansion Grants program. This notice corrects the Executive Summary Selection Criterion (A)(7)(b). DATES: Effective September 18, 2014. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SUMMARY: Correction In the Federal Register of August 18, 2014 (79 FR 48874), on page 48884, in the left-hand column under the selection criterion (A)(7)(b), the text of the selection criterion refers to ‘‘one or more’’ High-Need Communities. In order to align Selection Criterion (A)(7)(b) with Absolute Priority 1 and the introductory text to Selection Criterion (D), we correct the paragraph to read ‘‘two or more’’ High-Need Communities, as follows: E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM 18SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56070-56071]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-22222]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-P-2014-0046]


Notice on Roundtable on International Harmonization of 
Substantive Patent Law

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of roundtable.

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

SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is 
seeking input on certain matters relating to the international 
harmonization of substantive patent law. In view of the importance of 
harmonization of substantive patent law to the successful reutilization 
of the examination work of one intellectual property office by another, 
or work sharing, the USPTO is particularly interested in stakeholder 
comments on the following key patent examination-related issues: The 
definition and scope of prior art; the grace period; and standards for 
assessing novelty and obviousness/inventive step. To assist in 
gathering this information, the USPTO is holding a public roundtable 
which interested members of the public are invited to attend.

DATES: The roundtable will be held on November 19, 2014. The roundtable 
will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The roundtable will be held at the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office, Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
roundtable, please contact Summer

[[Page 56071]]

Kostelnik or Elizabeth Shaw at the Office of Policy and International 
Affairs, by telephone at (571) 272-9300, by email at 
IP.Policy@uspto.gov, or by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop OPIA, 
United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, 
VA 22313-1450, ATTN: Summer Kostelnik or Elizabeth Shaw. Please direct 
all media inquiries to the Office of the Chief Communications Officer, 
USPTO, at (571) 272-8400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Background

    The United States has participated in several international efforts 
to harmonize substantive patent law across different jurisdictions. The 
most recent discussions toward this end have been conducted under the 
auspices of the ``Tegernsee Group,'' which is comprised of the leaders 
and patent law experts from the patent offices of Denmark, France, 
Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as 
from the European Patent Office. The Group was formed in 2011 to 
consider the state of patent law harmonization and to facilitate 
progress toward greater harmonization by means of fact finding and 
information gathering. The Group published a Final Report in June 2014, 
consolidating stakeholder views on key issues across various 
jurisdictions. The Final Report, entitled ``Consolidated Report on the 
Tegernsee User Consultation on Substantive Patent Law Harmonization,'' 
is available for review at https://www.uspto.gov/ip/global/patents/
tegernseesurvey/teg-
finalconsolreportjune2014.pdf. The 
Tegernsee Group is currently on hiatus pending further developments.
    In parallel with the Tegernsee Group discussions and earlier 
efforts focused on substantive harmonization, the USPTO has also been 
engaged with other patent offices on several work sharing initiatives, 
such as the Patent Prosecution Highway. Work sharing allows one office 
to leverage work done by another office on a corresponding application 
in order to improve quality and reduce duplicative search and 
examination efforts. Substantive harmonization can enhance the 
effectiveness of work sharing by better aligning the patentability 
standards of the various offices, thereby making it easier for those 
offices to use one another's work.

2. Issues for Public Comment

    Past studies and experiences indicate that the areas of substantive 
law that are most relevant for work-sharing purposes are those related 
to the search and application of prior art. That is because prior art 
is determinative of patentability in most cases, and because prior art 
searching is a critical aspect of the examination process. Accordingly, 
the USPTO is particularly interested in stakeholder views on the 
following key patent examination-related issues: The definition and 
scope of prior art; the grace period; and standards for assessing 
novelty and obviousness/inventive step.
    The roundtable will begin with an introduction on the current state 
of play of substantive harmonization efforts including an update on the 
work of the Tegernsee Group. The roundtable will continue with a panel 
discussion consisting of two sessions. The first session will include a 
discussion on the substantive harmonization issues most suitable for 
further progress, with a particular focus on those key patent 
examination-related issues: Definition of prior art; prior art effect 
of published applications; prior art not affecting patentability (grace 
period), and conditions for patentability--novelty and obviousness/
inventive step. During the second session, the USPTO is interested in 
hearing stakeholder views as to how to best advance substantive patent 
law harmonization discussions.
    Time will be reserved at the end of each session for interested 
members of the public to comment upon the topics discussed. Individuals 
interested in serving as a panelist should submit their name, contact 
information (telephone number and email address), the name of the 
organization(s) the person represents, if any, relevant biographical 
information as it pertains to the topic(s) to be discussed during the 
session(s), and a few brief comments on the topic(s) to 
IP.Policy@uspto.gov before October 24, 2014. Panelists will be selected 
approximately two weeks in advance of the roundtable.

Instructions and Information on the Public Roundtable

    The roundtable will be held on November 19, 2014, at the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office, Madison Building, 600 Dulany 
Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The roundtable will begin at 8:30 
a.m. and end at 12:00 p.m. The agenda and Web cast information will be 
available a week before the roundtable on the USPTO's Office of Policy 
and International Affairs Web site at https://www.uspto.gov/ip/
officechiefecon/hearingsroundtables.jsp. Registration 
is available at https://events.SignUp4.com/Patharm. Attendees may also 
register at the door. Sign in will commence at 8:00 a.m. prior to the 
beginning of the roundtable.
    The roundtable will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Individuals requiring accommodation, such as sign 
language interpretation or other ancillary aids, should communicate 
their needs to Hollis Robinson at the Office of Policy and 
International Affairs, by telephone at (571) 272-9300, by email at 
hollis.robinson@uspto.gov, or by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop 
OPIA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, ATTN: Hollis Robinson, at least seven (7) 
business days prior to the roundtable.

    Dated: September 12, 2014.
Michelle K. Lee,
Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy 
Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2014-22222 Filed 9-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P

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