Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees, 34901-34902 [2015-15071]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Notices Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO–C–2015–0035] Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees. AGENCY: On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the ‘‘Act’’), Public Law 106–113, which, among other things, established two Public Advisory Committees to review the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, and to advise the Director on these matters (now codified at 35 U.S.C. 5). The America Invents Act Technical Corrections Act made several amendments to the 1999 Act, including the requirement that the terms of the USPTO Public Advisory Committee members be realigned by 2014, so that December 1 be used as the start and end date, with terms staggered so that each year three existing terms expire and three new terms begin on December 1. Through this Notice, the USPTO is requesting nominations for up to three (3) members of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and for up to three (3) members of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, for terms of three years that begin on December 1, 2015. DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before July 25, 2015. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations should send the nominee’s ´ resume by postal mail to Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia, 22313–1450 or by electronic mail to: PPACnominations@ uspto.gov for the Patent Public Advisory Committee, or TPACnominations@ uspto.gov for the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272–8600. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Jun 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 The Advisory Committees’ duties include: • Review and advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on matters relating to policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the USPTO relating to patents and trademarks, respectively; and • Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year: (1) Prepare an annual report on matters listed above; (2) transmit the report to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and (3) publish the report in the Official Gazette of the USPTO. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Advisory Committees The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine (9) voting members who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (the ‘‘Secretary’’) and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for three-year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment for a second consecutive three-year term. The Public Advisory Committee members must be citizens of the United States and are chosen to represent the interests of diverse users of the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. Members must represent small and large entity applicants located in the United States in proportion to the number of applications filed by such applicants. The Committees must include individuals with ‘‘substantial background and achievement in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and office automation.’’ 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public Advisory Committees also includes three (3) non-voting members representing each labor organization recognized by the USPTO. Administration policy discourages the appointment of federally registered lobbyists to agency advisory boards and commissions (Lobbyists on Agency Boards and Commissions, https:// www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/ lobbyist-agency-boards-andcommissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. Order No. 13490, 74 FR 4673 (January 21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 does not specifically apply to federally registered lobbyists appointed by agency or department heads, it sets forth the Administration’s general policy of decreasing the influence of special interests in the Federal Government). PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 34901 Procedures and Guidelines of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Each newly appointed member of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will serve for a three-year term that begins on December 1, 2015, and ends on December 1, 2018. As required by the 1999 Act, members of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will receive compensation for each day (including travel time) while the member is attending meetings or engaged in the business of that Advisory Committee. The enabling statute states that members are to be compensated at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of Title 5, United States Code. Committee members are compensated on an hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While away from home or regular place of business, each member shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by Section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code. Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws Public Advisory Committee Members are Special Government Employees within the meaning of Section 202 of Title 18, United States Code. The following additional information includes several, but not all, of the ethics rules that apply to members, and assumes that members are not engaged in Public Advisory Committee business more than 60 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. • Each member will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure form within thirty (30) days of appointment. 5 CFR 2634.202(c), 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b). • Each member will be subject to many of the public integrity laws, including criminal bars against representing a party in a particular matter that came before the member’s committee and that involved at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. A member also must not act on a matter in which the member (or any of certain closely related entities) has a financial interest. 18 U.S.C. 208. • Representation of foreign interests may also raise issues. 35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. 219. Meetings of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Meetings of each Advisory Committee will take place at the call of the respective Committee Chair to consider E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM 18JNN1 34902 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Notices an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings may be conducted in person, telephonically, on-line through the Internet, or by other appropriate means. The meetings of each Advisory Committee will be open to the public except each Advisory Committee may, by majority vote, meet in executive session when considering personnel, privileged, or other confidential information. Nominees must have the ability to participate in Committee business through the Internet. Dated: June 10, 2015. Michelle K. Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2015–15071 Filed 6–17–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Announcement of an Open Public Meeting National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE or Council), U.S. Department of Education. ACTION: Announcement of an open public meeting. AGENCY: This notice sets forth the schedule of an upcoming public meeting conducted by the National Advisory Council on Indian Education (NACIE). Notice of the meeting is required by section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act and intended to notify the public of its opportunity to attend. DATES: The NACIE meeting will be held via conference call on July 1, 2015— 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time. Up to 20 dial-in, listen only phone lines will be made available to the public on a first come, first served basis. The conference call number is 1– 888–677–5810 and the participant code is 3132285. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina Hunter, Designated Federal Official, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: 202–205–8527. Fax: 202–205–0310. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NACIE’s Statutory Authority and Function: The National Advisory Council on Indian Education is authorized by § 7141 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Council is established within the Department of Education to advise the Secretary of Education on the funding and administration (including the development of regulations, and tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:53 Jun 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 administrative policies and practices) of any program over which the Secretary has jurisdiction and includes Indian children or adults as participants or programs that may benefit Indian children or adults, including any program established under Title VII, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. The Council submits to the Congress a report on the activities of the Council that includes recommendations the Council considers appropriate for the improvement of Federal education programs that include Indian children or adults as participants or that may benefit Indian children or adults, and recommendations concerning the funding of any such program. One of the Council’s responsibilities is to develop and provide recommendations to the Secretary of Education on the funding and administration (including the development of regulations, and administrative policies and practices) of any program over which the Secretary has jurisdiction that can benefit Indian children or adults participating in any program which could benefit Indian children. Meeting Agenda: The purpose of the meeting is to convene the Council to conduct the following business: (1) Final discussion, review and approval of the annual report to Congress; (2) Discuss schedule to submit recommendations to the Secretary of Education on funding and administration of programs; and, (3) decide on possible dates for the next open public meeting(s) for the NACIE. Access to Records of the Meeting: The Department will post the official report of the meeting on the OESE Web site at: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ oese/?src=oc 21 days after the meeting. Pursuant to the FACA, the public may also inspect the materials at the Office of Indian Education, United States Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20202, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time or by emailing TribalConsultation@ ed.gov or by calling Terrie Nelson on (202) 401–0424 to schedule an appointment. Reasonable Accommodations: The hearing site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you will need an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting (e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format), notify Brandon Dent on (202) 453–6450 no later than June 26, 2015. Although we will attempt to meet a request received after request due date, we may not be able to make PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 available the requested auxiliary aid or service because of insufficient time to make arrangements. Electronic Access to this Document: The official version of this document is the document published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations is available via the Federal Digital System at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you can view this document, as well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). To use PDF, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free at the site. You may also access documents of the Department published in the Federal Register by using the article search feature at: www.federalregister.gov. Specifically, through the advanced search feature at this site, you can limit your search to documents published by the Department. Authority: The National Advisory Council on Indian Education is authorized by Section 7141 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Heather Rieman, Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and Secondary Education. [FR Doc. 2015–14947 Filed 6–17–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY [Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–NOC–0005] Solicitation of Nominations for Membership on the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy. ACTION: Solicitation of nominations for membership. AGENCY: To ensure a wide range of candidates and a balanced committee, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announces the solicitation of nominations to fill upcoming vacancies on the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee. SUMMARY: All nomination information should be provided in a single, complete package submitted electronically or postmarked by July 17, 2015. ADDRESSES: Nominations packages should be submitted either electronically or by mail, but not by DATES: E:\FR\FM\18JNN1.SGM 18JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34901-34902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-15071]



[[Page 34901]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-C-2015-0035]


Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark 
Public Advisory Committees.

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

SUMMARY: On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the Patent 
and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the ``Act''), Public Law 106-113, 
which, among other things, established two Public Advisory Committees 
to review the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the 
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with respect to 
patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with 
respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory 
Committee, and to advise the Director on these matters (now codified at 
35 U.S.C. 5). The America Invents Act Technical Corrections Act made 
several amendments to the 1999 Act, including the requirement that the 
terms of the USPTO Public Advisory Committee members be realigned by 
2014, so that December 1 be used as the start and end date, with terms 
staggered so that each year three existing terms expire and three new 
terms begin on December 1. Through this Notice, the USPTO is requesting 
nominations for up to three (3) members of the Patent Public Advisory 
Committee, and for up to three (3) members of the Trademark Public 
Advisory Committee, for terms of three years that begin on December 1, 
2015.

DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on 
or before July 25, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations should send the 
nominee's resum[eacute] by postal mail to Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of 
Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual 
Property and Director of the USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, 
Virginia, 22313-1450 or by electronic mail to: 
PPACnominations@uspto.gov for the Patent Public Advisory Committee, or 
TPACnominations@uspto.gov for the Trademark Public Advisory Committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of Staff, 
Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and 
Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272-8600.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committees' duties include:
     Review and advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on matters relating to 
policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the USPTO 
relating to patents and trademarks, respectively; and
     Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year: (1) 
Prepare an annual report on matters listed above; (2) transmit the 
report to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees 
on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and 
(3) publish the report in the Official Gazette of the USPTO.

Advisory Committees

    The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine (9) voting 
members who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (the 
``Secretary'') and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for three-
year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment for a second 
consecutive three-year term. The Public Advisory Committee members must 
be citizens of the United States and are chosen to represent the 
interests of diverse users of the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public 
Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the 
Trademark Public Advisory Committee. Members must represent small and 
large entity applicants located in the United States in proportion to 
the number of applications filed by such applicants. The Committees 
must include individuals with ``substantial background and achievement 
in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and 
office automation.'' 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public Advisory 
Committees also includes three (3) non-voting members representing each 
labor organization recognized by the USPTO. Administration policy 
discourages the appointment of federally registered lobbyists to agency 
advisory boards and commissions (Lobbyists on Agency Boards and 
Commissions, https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/lobbyist-agency-boards-and-commissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. Order No. 13490, 74 
FR 4673 (January 21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 does not 
specifically apply to federally registered lobbyists appointed by 
agency or department heads, it sets forth the Administration's general 
policy of decreasing the influence of special interests in the Federal 
Government).

Procedures and Guidelines of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory 
Committees

    Each newly appointed member of the Patent and Trademark Public 
Advisory Committees will serve for a three-year term that begins on 
December 1, 2015, and ends on December 1, 2018. As required by the 1999 
Act, members of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees 
will receive compensation for each day (including travel time) while 
the member is attending meetings or engaged in the business of that 
Advisory Committee. The enabling statute states that members are to be 
compensated at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in 
effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of 
Title 5, United States Code. Committee members are compensated on an 
hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While away from home or 
regular place of business, each member shall be allowed travel 
expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by 
Section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code.

Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws

    Public Advisory Committee Members are Special Government Employees 
within the meaning of Section 202 of Title 18, United States Code. The 
following additional information includes several, but not all, of the 
ethics rules that apply to members, and assumes that members are not 
engaged in Public Advisory Committee business more than 60 days during 
any period of 365 consecutive days.
     Each member will be required to file a confidential 
financial disclosure form within thirty (30) days of appointment. 5 CFR 
2634.202(c), 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b).
     Each member will be subject to many of the public 
integrity laws, including criminal bars against representing a party in 
a particular matter that came before the member's committee and that 
involved at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 
U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. A member also must not act on a 
matter in which the member (or any of certain closely related entities) 
has a financial interest. 18 U.S.C. 208.
     Representation of foreign interests may also raise issues. 
35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. 219.

Meetings of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees

    Meetings of each Advisory Committee will take place at the call of 
the respective Committee Chair to consider

[[Page 34902]]

an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings may be conducted in person, 
telephonically, on-line through the Internet, or by other appropriate 
means. The meetings of each Advisory Committee will be open to the 
public except each Advisory Committee may, by majority vote, meet in 
executive session when considering personnel, privileged, or other 
confidential information. Nominees must have the ability to participate 
in Committee business through the Internet.

    Dated: June 10, 2015.
Michelle K. Lee,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-15071 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
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