Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Patent Processing, 5500-5506 [2024-01722]
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices
Attestation Form is for the use of a State
or local government AG or IG to attest
on behalf of a State or local government
department or agency Person or
Certified Person. The AG or IG Systems
Safeguards Attestation Form requires
the State or local government AG or IG
to attest that a Person seeking
certification or a Certified Person
seeking renewal of certification has
information security systems, facilities
and procedures in place to protect the
security of the Limited Access DMF, as
required under section 1110.102(a)(2) of
the final rule. The AG or IG Systems
Safeguards Attestation Form collects
information based on an assessment by
the State or local government AG or IG
conducted within three years prior to
the date of the Person or Certified
Person’s submission of a completed
certification statement under section
1110.101(a) of the final rule. This
collection includes specific
requirements of the final rule, which the
State or local government AG or IG must
certify are satisfied, and the provision of
specific information by the State or local
government AG or IG, such as the date
of the assessment.
Affected Public: Accredited
Conformity Assessment Bodies and
State or local government Auditors
General or Inspectors General attesting
that a Person seeking certification or a
Certified Person seeking renewal of
certification under the final rule for the
‘‘Certification Program for Access to the
Death Master File’’ has information
security systems, facilities and
procedures in place to protect the
security of the Limited Access DMF, as
required by the final rule.
Frequency: Every three (3) years.
Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary.
Legal Authority: Section 203 of the
Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013, Public
Law 113–67.
This information collection request
may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow
the instructions to view Department of
Commerce collections currently under
review by OMB.
Written comments and
recommendations for the proposed
information collection should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this
notice on the following website
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Find this particular information
collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under
30-day Review—Open for Public
Comments’’ or by using the search
function and entering either the title of
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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the collection or the OMB control
number 0692–0016.
Sheleen Dumas,
Department PRA Clearance Officer, Office of
the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs,
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2024–01689 Filed 1–26–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–04–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Patent Processing
United States Patent and
Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection;
request for comment.
AGENCY:
The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO), as required
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, invites comments on the
extension and revision of an existing
information collection: 0651–0031
(Patent Processing). The purpose of this
notice is to allow 60 days for public
comment preceding submission of this
information collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration,
comments regarding this information
collection must be received on or before
March 29, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are
invited to submit written comments by
any of the following methods. Do not
submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or
protected information.
• Email: InformationCollections@
uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0031
comment’’ in the subject line of the
message.
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov.
• Mail: Justin Isaac, Information
Collection Officer, Office of the Chief
Administrative Officer, United States
Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box
1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information
should be directed to Raul Tamayo,
Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent
Legal Administration, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313–1450; by
telephone at 571–272–7728; or by email
to raul.tamayo@uspto.gov with ‘‘0651–
0031 comment’’ in the subject line.
Additional information about this
information collection is also available
SUMMARY:
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at https://www.reginfo.gov under
‘‘Information Collection Review.’’
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) is required
by 35 U.S.C. 131 to examine an
application for patent and, when
appropriate, issue a patent. The USPTO
is also required to publish patent
applications, with certain exceptions,
promptly after the expiration of a period
of eighteen months from the earliest
filing date for which a benefit is sought
under title 35, United States Code
(‘‘eighteen-month publication’’). Certain
situations may arise which require that
additional information be supplied in
order for the USPTO to further process
the patent or application. The USPTO
administers the statutes through various
sections of the rules of practice in 37
CFR part 1.
During the processing of an
application for a patent, the applicant or
the applicant’s representative may be
required to submit additional
information to the USPTO concerning
the examination of a specific
application. The specific information
required to be submitted includes:
requests for extension of time,
abandonment of applications and the
revival of abandoned applications,
disclaimers, appeals, petitions,
expedited examination of design
applications, requests for continued
examinations, requests to inspect, copy,
access patent applications, and
transmittal forms.
The information in this collection is
used by the USPTO to continue the
processing of the patent or application
to ensure that applicants are complying
with the patent regulations and to aid in
the prosecution of the application. This
also includes situations that require
additional information in order for the
USPTO to further process the patent or
application.
II. Method of Collection
The items in this information
collection can be submitted through the
USPTO patent electronic filing system
(Patent Center), the USPTO’s online
filing and viewing system for patent
applications and related documents.
The USPTO also will accept
submissions by mail, hand delivery, and
facsimile.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0651–0031.
Forms: (AIA—America Invents Act;
SB—Specimen Book; PTOL = Patent
and Trademark Office Legal)
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• PTO/AIA/22 (Petition for Extension of
Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a))
• PTO/AIA/24 (Express Abandonment
under 37 CFR 1.138)
• PTO/AIA/24B (Petition for Express
Abandonment to Obtain a Refund)
• PTO/AIA/33 (Pre-Appeal Brief
Request for Review)
• PTO/AIA/40 (Request for Correction
in a Patent Application Relating to
Inventorship or an Inventor Name, or
Order of Names, Other than in a
Reissue Application (37 CFR 1.48)
• PTO/AIA/41 (Request to Correct or
Update the Name of the Applicant
Under 37 CFR 1.45(c)(1), or Change
the Applicant Under 37 CFR
1.46(c)(2))
• PTO/AIA/67 (Power to Inspect/
Copy—For Applications Filed On or
After September 16, 2012)
• PTO/AIA/96 (Statement Under 37
CFR 3.73(c))
• PTO/SB/08a (Information Disclosure
Statement by Applicant)
• PTO/SB/08b (Information Disclosure
Statement by Applicant)
• PTO/SB/17i (Processing Fee under 37
CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal)
• PTO/SB/21 (Transmittal Form)
• PTO/SB/22 (Petition for Extension of
Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a))
• PTO/SB/24 (Express Abandonment
under 37 CFR 1.138)
• PTO/SB/24B (Petition for Express
Abandonment to Obtain a Refund)
• PTO/SB/25 (Terminal Disclaimer to
Obviate a Provisional Double
Patenting Rejection Over a Pending
‘‘Reference’’ Application)
• PTO/SB/26 (Terminal Disclaimer to
Obviate a Double Patenting Rejection
over a ‘‘Prior’’ Patent)
• PTO/SB/27 (Request for Expedited
Examination of a Design Application
(37 CFR 1.155))
• PTO/SB/30 (Request for Continued
Examination (RCE) Transmittal)
• PTO/SB/33 (Pre-Appeal Brief Request
for Review)
• PTO/SB/35 (Nonpublication Request
under 35 U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(i))
• PTO/SB/36 (Rescission of Previous
Nonpublication Request (35 U.S.C.
122(b)(2)(B)(ii) and, if applicable,
Notice of Foreign Filing (35 U.S.C.
122(b)(2)(B)(iii))
• PTO/SB/37 (Request Deferral of
Examination 37 CFR 1.103(d))
• PTO/SB/38 (Request to Retrieve
Electronic Priority Applications(s)
Filed with Nonparticipating Office(s)
That is Available in a Participating
Office (37 CFR 1.55(i)(4)))
• PTO/SB/39 (Authorization or
Rescission of Authorization to Permit
Access to Application-as-filed by
Participating Offices)
• PTO/SB/43 (Disclaimer in a Patent
under 37 CFR 1.321(a))
• PTO/SB/63 (Terminal Disclaimer to
Accompany Petition)
• PTO/SB/64 (Petition for Revival of an
Application for Patent Abandoned
Unintentionally Under 37 CFR
1.137(a))
• PTO/SB/64a (Petition for Revival of
an Application for Patent Abandoned
for Failure to Notify the Office of a
Foreign or International Filing (37
CFR 1.137(f))
• PTO/SB/67 (Power to Inspect/Copy—
For Applications Filed Before
September 16, 2012)
• PTO/SB/68 (Request for Access to an
Abandoned Application under 37
CFR 1.14)
• PTO/SB/91 (Deposit Account Order
Form)
• PTO/SB/92 (Certificate of Mailing or
Transmission under 37 CFR 1.8)
• PTO/SB/96 (Statement under 37 CFR
3.73(b))
• PTO/SB/130 (Petition to Make Special
Based on Age for Advancement of
Examination under 37 CFR
1.102(c)(1))
• PTOL/413A (Applicant Initiated
Interview Request Form)
• PTO–2053–A/B (Notice Under 37 CFR
1.251—Pending Application)
• PTO–2054–A/B (Notice Under 37 CFR
1.251—Abandoned Application)
• PTO–2055–A/B (Notice Under 37 CFR
1.251—Patent)
Type of Review: Extension and
revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Private sector.
Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
obtain or retain benefits.
Estimated Number of Annual
Respondents: 2,435,597 respondents per
year.
Estimated Number of Annual
Responses: 2,435,597 responses per
year.
Estimated Time per Response: The
USPTO estimates that it will take
respondents between 2 minutes (0.03
hours) and 8 hours to submit items in
this information collection depending
on the instrument used. This includes
the time to gather the necessary
information, create the document, and
submit the completed request to the
USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent
Burden Hours: 535,466 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent
Hourly Cost Burden: $170,503,027.
TABLE 1—TOTAL BURDEN HOURS AND HOURLY COSTS TO PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONDENTS
Item No.
1 ............
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2 ............
3 ............
4 ............
5 ............
6 ............
Item
Information Disclosure
Statements (IDS) that
do not require the fee
set forth in 37 CFR
1.17(p).
Transmittal Form .............
Petition for Extension of
Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a).
Express Abandonment
under 37 CFR 1.138.
Statutory Disclaimers (including terminal disclaimers).
Request for Expedited
Examination of a Design Application.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Estimated
annual
respondents
Responses
per
respondent
Estimated
annual
responses
Estimated
time
for response
(hours)
Estimated
burden
(hour/year)
Rate 1
($/hour)
Estimated
annual
respondent
cost burden
(a)
(b)
(a) × (b) = (c)
(d)
(c) × (d) = (e)
(f)
(e) × (f) = (g)
694,000
1
694,000
0.20 (12 minutes) ............
138,800
$447
$62,043,600
517,000
192,884
1
1
517,000
192,884
0.20 (12 minutes) ............
0.40 (24 minutes) ............
103,400
77,154
122
122
12,614,800
9,412,788
2,000
1
2,000
0.08 (5 minutes) ..............
160
122
19,520
49,950
1
49,950
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
12,488
447
5,582,136
7,227
1
7,227
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
1,807
447
807,729
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TABLE 1—TOTAL BURDEN HOURS AND HOURLY COSTS TO PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONDENTS—Continued
Item No.
7 ............
8 ............
9 ............
10 ..........
11 ..........
12 ..........
13 ..........
14 ..........
15 ..........
16 ..........
17 ..........
18 ..........
19 ..........
20 ..........
21 ..........
22 ..........
23 ..........
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
24 ..........
25 ..........
26 ..........
27 ..........
Item
Petition for Revival of an
Application for Patent
Abandoned Unintentionally.
Petition for Revival of an
Application for Patent
Abandoned for Failure
to Notify the Office of a
Foreign or International
Filing.
Requests to Access, Inspect, and Copy.
Deposit Account Order
Form.
Certificates of Mailing or
Transmission.
Statement Under 37 CFR
3.73(c) (AIA), 37 CFR
3.83(b) (pre-AIA).
Non-publication Request
Rescission of Previous
Non-publication Request (35 U.S.C.
§ 122(b)(2)(B)(ii) and, if
applicable, Notice of
Foreign Filing (35
U.S.C. § 122(b)(2)(B)(iii).
USPTO Patent Electronic
Filing System Copy of
Application for Publication.
Copy of File Content
Showing Redactions.
Copy of the Applicant or
Patentee’s Record of
the Application (including copies of the correspondence, list of the
correspondence, and
statements verifying
whether the record is
complete or not).
Request for Continued
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal).
Request for Suspension
of Action or Deferral of
Examination Under 37
CFR 1.103(b), (c), or
(d).
Request for Voluntary
Publication or Republication (includes publication fee for republication).
Applicant Initiated Interview Request Form.
Processing Fee Under 37
CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal.
Request to Retrieve Electronic Priority Application (s) Under 37 CFR
1.55(i)(4).
Authorization or Rescission of Authorization to
Permit Access to Application-as-filed by Participating Offices Under
37 CFR 1.14(h).
Petition for Express Abandonment to Obtain a
Refund.
Pre-Appeal Brief Request
for Review.
Request for Corrected Filing Receipt.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:33 Jan 26, 2024
Estimated
annual
respondents
Responses
per
respondent
Estimated
annual
responses
Estimated
time
for response
(hours)
Estimated
burden
(hour/year)
Rate 1
($/hour)
Estimated
annual
respondent
cost burden
(a)
(b)
(a) × (b) = (c)
(d)
(c) × (d) = (e)
(f)
(e) × (f) = (g)
7,024
1
7,024
1 .......................................
7,024
447
3,139,728
125
1
125
1 .......................................
125
447
55,875
1,000
1
1,000
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
250
122
30,500
55,000
1
55,000
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
13,750
122
1,677,500
450,000
1
450,000
0.03 (2 minutes) ..............
13,500
122
1,647,000
146,000
1
146,000
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
36,500
447
16,315,500
16,000
500
1
1
16,000
500
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
4,000
125
447
447
1,788,000
55,875
1
1
1
2.50 ..................................
3
122
366
3
1
3
4 .......................................
12
447
5,364
10
1
10
2 .......................................
20
122
2,440
132,000
1
132,000
0.30 (18 minutes) ............
39,600
447
17,701,200
630
1
630
0.20 (12 minutes) ............
126
447
56,322
450
1
450
0.20 (12 minutes) ............
90
122
10,980
50,000
1
50,000
0.40 (24 minutes) ............
20,000
447
8,940,000
100
1
100
0.08 (5 minutes) ..............
8
447
3,576
10,000
1
10,000
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
2,500
447
1,117,500
6,000
1
6,000
0.25 (15 minutes) ............
1,500
447
670,500
2,050
1
2,050
0.20 (12 minutes) ............
410
447
183,270
6,700
1
6,700
5 .......................................
33,500
447
14,974,500
44,000
1
44,000
0.08 (5 minutes) ..............
3,520
122
429,440
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TABLE 1—TOTAL BURDEN HOURS AND HOURLY COSTS TO PRIVATE SECTOR RESPONDENTS—Continued
Item No.
28 ..........
29 ..........
30 ..........
31 ..........
32 ..........
Totals ....
Item
Petition to Make Special
Based on Age for Advancement of Examination under 37 CFR
1.102(c)(1).
Filing a submission after
final rejection (see 37
CFR 1.129(a)).
Correction of inventorship
after first office action
on the merits.
Request for correction in
a patent application relating to inventorship or
an inventor name, or
order of names, other
than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48).
Request to correct or update the name of the
applicant under 37 CFR
1.46(c)(1), or change
the applicant under 37
CFR 1.46(c)(2).
..........................................
Estimated
annual
respondents
Responses
per
respondent
Estimated
annual
responses
Estimated
time
for response
(hours)
Estimated
burden
(hour/year)
Rate 1
($/hour)
Estimated
annual
respondent
cost burden
(a)
(b)
(a) × (b) = (c)
(d)
(c) × (d) = (e)
(f)
(e) × (f) = (g)
2,100
1
2,100
2 .......................................
4,200
447
1,877,400
43
1
43
8 .......................................
344
447
153,768
3,300
1
3,300
0.75 (45 minutes) ............
2,475
447
1,106,325
18,500
1
18,500
0.75 (45 minutes) ............
13,875
447
6,202,125
21,000
1
21,000
0.20 (12 minutes) ............
4,200
447
1,877,400
2,435,597
....................
2,435,597
..........................................
535,466
........................
170,503,027
1 2023
Report of the Economic Survey, published by the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA);
pg. F–41. The USPTO uses the average billing rate for intellectual property work in all firms which is $447 per hour (https://www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/
economic-survey). 2022 National Utilization and Compensation Survey Report published by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA); pg. 38. The USPTO
uses the average billing rate for paralegals/paraprofessionals, which is $122 per hour (https://nala.org/paralegal-info/).
Estimated Total Annual Non-Hourly
Cost Burden: $363,821,958. There is no
capital start-up, maintenance costs, or
recordkeeping costs associated with this
information collection. However, there
is non-hour cost burden in the way of
filing fees and postage costs. The total
annual (non-hour) respondent cost
burden for this collection is estimated to
be $363,821,958, which includes
$363,579,616 in filing fees, and
$242,342 in postage.
Filing Fees
The fees in this information collection
are listed in the table below. The fee for
Request for Prioritized Examination has
no counterpart in the hourly cost table
due to that form being exempt from the
PRA.
TABLE 2—FILING FEES
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Item No.
Fee code
1 ...................
1806
1 ...................
2806
1 ...................
3806
3 ...................
1251
3 ...................
2251
3 ...................
3251
3 ...................
1252
3 ...................
2252
3 ...................
3252
3 ...................
1253
3 ...................
2253
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:33 Jan 26, 2024
Item
Information Disclosure Statements (IDS) that require
the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) (undiscounted).
IDS that require the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p)
(small entity).
IDS that require the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p)
(micro entity).
One-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
One-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(small entity).
One-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(micro entity).
Two-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
Two-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(small entity).
Two-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(micro entity).
Three-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
Three-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(small entity).
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Estimated
annual
responses
Filing
fee
($)
Non-hourly
cost burden
(a)
(b)
(a) × (b) = (c)
85,540
$260
$22,240,400
22,173
104
2,305,992
624
52
32,448
62,740
220
13,802,800
29,039
88
2,555,432
3,509
44
154,396
23,560
640
15,078,400
15,484
256
3,963,904
1,922
128
246,016
20,377
1,480
30,157,960
23,002
592
13,617,184
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices
TABLE 2—FILING FEES—Continued
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Item No.
Fee code
3 ...................
3253
3 ...................
1254
3 ...................
2254
3 ...................
3254
3 ...................
1255
3 ...................
2255
3 ...................
3255
5 ...................
1814
5 ...................
2814
5 ...................
3814
6 ...................
1802
6 ...................
2802
6 ...................
3802
7 ...................
1453
7 ...................
2453
7 ...................
3453
8 ...................
1453
8 ...................
2453
8 ...................
3453
16 .................
1808
16 .................
16 .................
18 .................
2808
3808
1801
18 .................
2801
18 .................
3801
18 .................
1820
18 .................
2820
18 .................
3820
19 .................
1830
19 .................
2830
19 .................
3830
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:33 Jan 26, 2024
Item
Three-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(micro entity).
Four-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
Four-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(small entity).
Four-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(micro entity).
Five-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
Five-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(small entity).
Five-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a)
(micro entity).
Statutory Disclaimers (including terminal disclaimers)
(undiscounted).
Statutory Disclaimers (including terminal disclaimers)
(small entity).
Statutory Disclaimers (including terminal disclaimers)
(micro entity).
Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application (undiscounted).
Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application (small entity).
Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application (micro entity).
Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally (undiscounted).
Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally (small entity).
Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally (micro entity).
Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or
International Filing (undiscounted).
Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or
International Filing (small entity).
Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or
International Filing (micro entity).
Copy of File Content Showing Redactions
(undiscounted).
Copy of File Content Showing Redactions (small entity)
Copy of File Content Showing Redactions (micro entity)
Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal
(First Request) (undiscounted).
Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal
(First Request) (small entity).
Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal
(First Request) (micro entity).
Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal
(Second and Subsequent Requests) (undiscounted).
Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal
(Second and Subsequent Requests) (small entity).
Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal
(Second and Subsequent Requests) (micro entity).
Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d)
(undiscounted).
Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d) (small entity).
Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d) (micro entity).
Jkt 262001
PO 00000
Frm 00025
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Estimated
annual
responses
Filing
fee
($)
Non-hourly
cost burden
(a)
(b)
(a) × (b) = (c)
2,558
296
757,168
1,810
2,320
4,199,200
2,196
928
2,037,888
266
464
123,424
3,039
3,160
9,603,240
3,176
1,264
4,014,464
206
632
130,192
36,105
170
6,137,850
13,175
170
2,239,750
670
170
113,900
713
1,600
1,140,800
1,426
640
912,640
5,088
320
1,628,160
2,323
2,100
4,878,300
3,388
840
2,845,920
1,313
420
551,460
94
2,100
197,400
19
840
15,960
12
420
5,040
1
140
140
1
1
70,734
140
140
1,360
140
140
96,198,240
19,673
544
10,702,112
1,992
272
541,824
29,979
2,000
59,958,000
8,985
800
7,188,000
637
400
254,800
354
140
49,560
245
56
13,720
31
28
868
E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices
TABLE 2—FILING FEES—Continued
Item No.
Fee code
Item
20 .................
1803
20 .................
2803
20 .................
3803
22 .................
1830
22 .................
2830
22 .................
3830
29 .................
1810
29 .................
2810
29 .................
3810
29 .................
1809
29 .................
2809
29 .................
3809
30 .................
1819
30 .................
2819
30 .................
3819
31 .................
1830
31 .................
2830
31 .................
3803
31 .................
1807
N/A ...............
N/A ...............
N/A ...............
1817
2817
3817
Request for Voluntary Publication or Republication (includes publication fee for republication)
(undiscounted).
Request for Voluntary Publication or Republication (includes publication fee for republication) (small entity).
Request for Voluntary Publication or Republication (includes publication fee for republication) (micro entity).
Processing Fee Under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal
(undiscounted).
Processing Fee Under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal
(small entity).
Processing Fee Under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal
(micro entity).
For each additional invention to be examined (see 37
CFR 1.129(b)) (undiscounted).
For each additional invention to be examined (see 37
CFR 1.129(b)) (small entity).
For each additional invention to be examined (see 37
CFR 1.129(b)) (micro entity).
Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR
1.129(a)) (undiscounted).
Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR
1.129(a)) (small entity).
Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR
1.129(a)) (micro entity).
Correction of inventorship after first office action on the
merits (undiscounted).
Correction of inventorship after first office action on the
merits (small entity).
Correction of inventorship after first office action on the
merits (micro entity).
Request for correction in a patent application relating to
inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names,
other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48)
(non-provisional) (undiscounted).
Request for correction in a patent application relating to
inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names,
other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48)
(non-provisional) (small entity).
Request for correction in a patent application relating to
inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names,
other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48)
(non-provisional) (micro entity).
Request for correction in a patent application relating to
inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names,
other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48)
(provisional).
Request for prioritized examination (undiscounted) .......
Request for prioritized examination (small entity) ..........
Request for prioritized examination (micro entity) ..........
Totals ....
........................
..........................................................................................
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
Postage Costs
Although the USPTO prefers that the
items in this information collection be
submitted electronically, responses may
be submitted by mail through the
United States Postal Service (USPS).
The USPTO estimates that 1% of the
2,435,597 items will be submitted in the
mail resulting in 24,356 mailed items.
The USPTO estimates that the average
postage cost for a mailed submission,
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:33 Jan 26, 2024
Jkt 262001
Estimated
annual
responses
Filing
fee
($)
Non-hourly
cost burden
(a)
(b)
(a) × (b) = (c)
using a Priority Mail flat rate legal
envelope, will be $9.95. Therefore, the
USPTO estimates that the total mailing
costs for this information collection is
$242,342.
IV. Request for Comments
The USPTO is soliciting public
comments to:
(a) Evaluate whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
157
140
21,980
19
140
2,660
4
140
560
56
140
7,840
39
56
2,184
5
28
140
1
880
880
1
352
352
1
176
176
17
880
14,960
20
352
7,040
6
176
1,056
793
640
507,520
617
256
157,952
60
128
7,680
7,122
140
997,080
5,180
56
290,080
648
28
18,144
5,550
50
277,500
6,481
7,491
1,028
4,200
1,680
840
27,220,200
12,584,880
863,520
533,476
........................
363,579,616
Agency, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the
Agency’s estimate of the burden of the
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(d) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 19 / Monday, January 29, 2024 / Notices
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
All comments submitted in response
to this notice are a matter of public
record. USPTO will include or
summarize each comment in the request
to OMB to approve this information
collection. Before including an address,
phone number, email address, or other
personally identifiable information (PII)
in a comment, be aware that the entire
comment—including PII—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you may ask in your comment to
withhold PII from public view, USPTO
cannot guarantee that it will be able to
do so.
Justin Isaac,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the
Chief Administrative Officer, United States
Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2024–01722 Filed 1–26–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
of Patent Legal Administration, at 571–
272–7747; or Carolyn Kosowski, Senior
Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal
Administration, at 571–272–7688.
The
USPTO published in the Federal
Register on November 17, 2023,
supplemental guidance to be used by
USPTO personnel in determining
whether a design claim including a
computer-generated electronic image is
directed to statutory subject matter. See
Supplemental Guidance for
Examination of Design Patent
Applications Related to ComputerGenerated Electronic Images, Including
Computer-Generated Icons and
Graphical User Interfaces, 88 FR 80277.
This notice provides the deadline for
submitting written comments through
the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
www.regulations.gov. The deadline for
submitting comments is November 18,
2024. Please see the ADDRESSES section
in the November 17, 2023 notice for
instructions on how to submit
comments.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Correction
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
In the Federal Register of November
17, 2023, in FR Doc. 2023–25473, on
page 80277, in the third column, correct
the DATES caption to read:
Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No.: PTO–P–2023–0047]
Supplemental Guidance for
Examination of Design Patent
Applications Related to ComputerGenerated Electronic Images,
Including Computer-Generated Icons
and Graphical User Interfaces
Patent and Trademark Office,
Commerce.
ACTION: Examination guidance;
correction.
AGENCY:
The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) published in
the Federal Register on November 17,
2023, supplemental guidance to be used
by USPTO personnel in determining
whether a design claim including a
computer-generated electronic image is
directed to statutory subject matter. This
notice provides the deadline for written
comments. Additionally, the USPTO
has corrected Examples 2, 4, and 5 in
Section (V) of the supplemental
guidance published in the Federal
Register to reflect certain formatting
(i.e., underlining and strikethrough)
necessary to understand the examples.
The supplemental guidance, including
the examples, will be incorporated into
the Manual of Patent Examining
Procedure in due course.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin
Harriman, Senior Legal Advisor, Office
ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:33 Jan 26, 2024
Jkt 262001
This supplemental guidance is
applicable as of November 17, 2023.
Comments must be received by
November 18, 2024, to ensure
consideration.
In addition, the USPTO has corrected
Examples 2, 4, and 5 in Section (V) of
the supplemental guidance published in
the Federal Register to reproduce
certain formatting (i.e., underlining and
strikethrough) in the text necessary to
understand the examples. A PDF
version of the examples, which contains
the formatting, has been posted on the
Examination Guidance and Training
Materials page under 35 U.S.C. 171 at
www.uspto.gov/patents/laws/
examination-policy/examinationguidance-and-training-materials.
The supplemental guidance,
including the examples, will be
incorporated into the Manual of Patent
Examining Procedure in due course.
DATES:
Katherine Kelly Vidal,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual
Property and Director of the United States
Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2024–01717 Filed 1–26–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Patent Examiner Employment
Application
The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) will submit
the following information collection
request to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance
in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the
date of publication of this notice. The
USPTO invites comments on this
information collection renewal, which
helps the USPTO assess the impact of
its information collection requirements
and minimize the public’s reporting
burden. Public comments were
previously requested via the Federal
Register on November 15, 2023 during
a 60-day comment period (88 FR 78332).
This notice allows for an additional 30
days for public comment.
Agency: United States Patent and
Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
Title: Patent Examiner Employment
Application.
OMB Control Number: 0651–0042.
Needs and Uses: In the current
employment environment, life science
and engineering graduates are in great
demand. The United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO) is in direct
competition with the private industry
for the same caliber of candidates with
the requisite knowledge and skills to
perform patent examination work. This
information collection covers online
applications to the USPTO for entry
level patent examiner positions. More
specifically, the collection covers the
respondent data gathered from the
applications. The USPTO posts the
relevant positions online and collects
applicant information via the USA
Staffing System.
The USA Staffing online application
collects supplemental information to a
candidate’s USAJOBS application. This
information assists USPTO Human
Resource Specialists and Hiring
Managers in determining whether an
applicant possesses the basic
qualification requirements for a patent
examiner position. From the
information collected, the USA Staffing
system creates an electronic real-time
candidate inventory on applicants’
expertise and technical knowledge,
which allows USPTO to immediately
review applications from multiple
E:\FR\FM\29JAN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5500-5506]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01722]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Patent Processing
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on
the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-
0031 (Patent Processing). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60
days for public comment preceding submission of this information
collection to OMB.
DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information
collection must be received on or before March 29, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0031 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Justin Isaac, Information Collection Officer, Office
of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Raul Tamayo, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of
Patent Legal Administration, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450;
by telephone at 571-272-7728; or by email to [email protected] with
``0651-0031 comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about
this information collection is also available at https://www.reginfo.gov
under ``Information Collection Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is required
by 35 U.S.C. 131 to examine an application for patent and, when
appropriate, issue a patent. The USPTO is also required to publish
patent applications, with certain exceptions, promptly after the
expiration of a period of eighteen months from the earliest filing date
for which a benefit is sought under title 35, United States Code
(``eighteen-month publication''). Certain situations may arise which
require that additional information be supplied in order for the USPTO
to further process the patent or application. The USPTO administers the
statutes through various sections of the rules of practice in 37 CFR
part 1.
During the processing of an application for a patent, the applicant
or the applicant's representative may be required to submit additional
information to the USPTO concerning the examination of a specific
application. The specific information required to be submitted
includes: requests for extension of time, abandonment of applications
and the revival of abandoned applications, disclaimers, appeals,
petitions, expedited examination of design applications, requests for
continued examinations, requests to inspect, copy, access patent
applications, and transmittal forms.
The information in this collection is used by the USPTO to continue
the processing of the patent or application to ensure that applicants
are complying with the patent regulations and to aid in the prosecution
of the application. This also includes situations that require
additional information in order for the USPTO to further process the
patent or application.
II. Method of Collection
The items in this information collection can be submitted through
the USPTO patent electronic filing system (Patent Center), the USPTO's
online filing and viewing system for patent applications and related
documents. The USPTO also will accept submissions by mail, hand
delivery, and facsimile.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0651-0031.
Forms: (AIA--America Invents Act; SB--Specimen Book; PTOL = Patent
and Trademark Office Legal)
[[Page 5501]]
PTO/AIA/22 (Petition for Extension of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a))
PTO/AIA/24 (Express Abandonment under 37 CFR 1.138)
PTO/AIA/24B (Petition for Express Abandonment to Obtain a
Refund)
PTO/AIA/33 (Pre-Appeal Brief Request for Review)
PTO/AIA/40 (Request for Correction in a Patent Application
Relating to Inventorship or an Inventor Name, or Order of Names, Other
than in a Reissue Application (37 CFR 1.48)
PTO/AIA/41 (Request to Correct or Update the Name of the
Applicant Under 37 CFR 1.45(c)(1), or Change the Applicant Under 37 CFR
1.46(c)(2))
PTO/AIA/67 (Power to Inspect/Copy--For Applications Filed On
or After September 16, 2012)
PTO/AIA/96 (Statement Under 37 CFR 3.73(c))
PTO/SB/08a (Information Disclosure Statement by Applicant)
PTO/SB/08b (Information Disclosure Statement by Applicant)
PTO/SB/17i (Processing Fee under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal)
PTO/SB/21 (Transmittal Form)
PTO/SB/22 (Petition for Extension of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a))
PTO/SB/24 (Express Abandonment under 37 CFR 1.138)
PTO/SB/24B (Petition for Express Abandonment to Obtain a
Refund)
PTO/SB/25 (Terminal Disclaimer to Obviate a Provisional Double
Patenting Rejection Over a Pending ``Reference'' Application)
PTO/SB/26 (Terminal Disclaimer to Obviate a Double Patenting
Rejection over a ``Prior'' Patent)
PTO/SB/27 (Request for Expedited Examination of a Design
Application (37 CFR 1.155))
PTO/SB/30 (Request for Continued Examination (RCE)
Transmittal)
PTO/SB/33 (Pre-Appeal Brief Request for Review)
PTO/SB/35 (Nonpublication Request under 35 U.S.C.
122(b)(2)(B)(i))
PTO/SB/36 (Rescission of Previous Nonpublication Request (35
U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(ii) and, if applicable, Notice of Foreign Filing
(35 U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(iii))
PTO/SB/37 (Request Deferral of Examination 37 CFR 1.103(d))
PTO/SB/38 (Request to Retrieve Electronic Priority
Applications(s) Filed with Nonparticipating Office(s) That is Available
in a Participating Office (37 CFR 1.55(i)(4)))
PTO/SB/39 (Authorization or Rescission of Authorization to
Permit Access to Application-as-filed by Participating Offices)
PTO/SB/43 (Disclaimer in a Patent under 37 CFR 1.321(a))
PTO/SB/63 (Terminal Disclaimer to Accompany Petition)
PTO/SB/64 (Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent
Abandoned Unintentionally Under 37 CFR 1.137(a))
PTO/SB/64a (Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent
Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or
International Filing (37 CFR 1.137(f))
PTO/SB/67 (Power to Inspect/Copy--For Applications Filed
Before September 16, 2012)
PTO/SB/68 (Request for Access to an Abandoned Application
under 37 CFR 1.14)
PTO/SB/91 (Deposit Account Order Form)
PTO/SB/92 (Certificate of Mailing or Transmission under 37 CFR
1.8)
PTO/SB/96 (Statement under 37 CFR 3.73(b))
PTO/SB/130 (Petition to Make Special Based on Age for
Advancement of Examination under 37 CFR 1.102(c)(1))
PTOL/413A (Applicant Initiated Interview Request Form)
PTO-2053-A/B (Notice Under 37 CFR 1.251--Pending Application)
PTO-2054-A/B (Notice Under 37 CFR 1.251--Abandoned
Application)
PTO-2055-A/B (Notice Under 37 CFR 1.251--Patent)
Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Private sector.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 2,435,597 respondents per
year.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 2,435,597 responses per year.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
respondents between 2 minutes (0.03 hours) and 8 hours to submit items
in this information collection depending on the instrument used. This
includes the time to gather the necessary information, create the
document, and submit the completed request to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 535,466 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $170,503,027.
Table 1--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Private Sector Respondents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Estimated Responses Estimated Estimated time for Estimated Rate \1\ ($/ annual
Item No. Item annual per annual response (hours) burden (hour/ hour) respondent
respondents respondent responses year) cost burden
(a) (b) (a) x (b) = (d).................. (c) x (d) = (f) (e) x (f) =
(c) (e) (g)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............... Information 694,000 1 694,000 0.20 (12 minutes).... 138,800 $447 $62,043,600
Disclosure
Statements (IDS)
that do not require
the fee set forth in
37 CFR 1.17(p).
2............... Transmittal Form..... 517,000 1 517,000 0.20 (12 minutes).... 103,400 122 12,614,800
3............... Petition for 192,884 1 192,884 0.40 (24 minutes).... 77,154 122 9,412,788
Extension of Time
under 37 CFR
1.136(a).
4............... Express Abandonment 2,000 1 2,000 0.08 (5 minutes)..... 160 122 19,520
under 37 CFR 1.138.
5............... Statutory Disclaimers 49,950 1 49,950 0.25 (15 minutes).... 12,488 447 5,582,136
(including terminal
disclaimers).
6............... Request for Expedited 7,227 1 7,227 0.25 (15 minutes).... 1,807 447 807,729
Examination of a
Design Application.
[[Page 5502]]
7............... Petition for Revival 7,024 1 7,024 1.................... 7,024 447 3,139,728
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
Unintentionally.
8............... Petition for Revival 125 1 125 1.................... 125 447 55,875
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
for Failure to
Notify the Office of
a Foreign or
International Filing.
9............... Requests to Access, 1,000 1 1,000 0.25 (15 minutes).... 250 122 30,500
Inspect, and Copy.
10.............. Deposit Account Order 55,000 1 55,000 0.25 (15 minutes).... 13,750 122 1,677,500
Form.
11.............. Certificates of 450,000 1 450,000 0.03 (2 minutes)..... 13,500 122 1,647,000
Mailing or
Transmission.
12.............. Statement Under 37 146,000 1 146,000 0.25 (15 minutes).... 36,500 447 16,315,500
CFR 3.73(c) (AIA),
37 CFR 3.83(b) (pre-
AIA).
13.............. Non-publication 16,000 1 16,000 0.25 (15 minutes).... 4,000 447 1,788,000
Request.
14.............. Rescission of 500 1 500 0.25 (15 minutes).... 125 447 55,875
Previous Non-
publication Request
(35 U.S.C. Sec.
122(b)(2)(B)(ii)
and, if applicable,
Notice of Foreign
Filing (35 U.S.C.
Sec.
122(b)(2)(B)(iii).
15.............. USPTO Patent 1 1 1 2.50................. 3 122 366
Electronic Filing
System Copy of
Application for
Publication.
16.............. Copy of File Content 3 1 3 4.................... 12 447 5,364
Showing Redactions.
17.............. Copy of the Applicant 10 1 10 2.................... 20 122 2,440
or Patentee's Record
of the Application
(including copies of
the correspondence,
list of the
correspondence, and
statements verifying
whether the record
is complete or not).
18.............. Request for Continued 132,000 1 132,000 0.30 (18 minutes).... 39,600 447 17,701,200
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal).
19.............. Request for 630 1 630 0.20 (12 minutes).... 126 447 56,322
Suspension of Action
or Deferral of
Examination Under 37
CFR 1.103(b), (c),
or (d).
20.............. Request for Voluntary 450 1 450 0.20 (12 minutes).... 90 122 10,980
Publication or
Republication
(includes
publication fee for
republication).
21.............. Applicant Initiated 50,000 1 50,000 0.40 (24 minutes).... 20,000 447 8,940,000
Interview Request
Form.
22.............. Processing Fee Under 100 1 100 0.08 (5 minutes)..... 8 447 3,576
37 CFR 1.17(i)
Transmittal.
23.............. Request to Retrieve 10,000 1 10,000 0.25 (15 minutes).... 2,500 447 1,117,500
Electronic Priority
Application (s)
Under 37 CFR
1.55(i)(4).
24.............. Authorization or 6,000 1 6,000 0.25 (15 minutes).... 1,500 447 670,500
Rescission of
Authorization to
Permit Access to
Application-as-filed
by Participating
Offices Under 37 CFR
1.14(h).
25.............. Petition for Express 2,050 1 2,050 0.20 (12 minutes).... 410 447 183,270
Abandonment to
Obtain a Refund.
26.............. Pre-Appeal Brief 6,700 1 6,700 5.................... 33,500 447 14,974,500
Request for Review.
27.............. Request for Corrected 44,000 1 44,000 0.08 (5 minutes)..... 3,520 122 429,440
Filing Receipt.
[[Page 5503]]
28.............. Petition to Make 2,100 1 2,100 2.................... 4,200 447 1,877,400
Special Based on Age
for Advancement of
Examination under 37
CFR 1.102(c)(1).
29.............. Filing a submission 43 1 43 8.................... 344 447 153,768
after final
rejection (see 37
CFR 1.129(a)).
30.............. Correction of 3,300 1 3,300 0.75 (45 minutes).... 2,475 447 1,106,325
inventorship after
first office action
on the merits.
31.............. Request for 18,500 1 18,500 0.75 (45 minutes).... 13,875 447 6,202,125
correction in a
patent application
relating to
inventorship or an
inventor name, or
order of names,
other than in a
reissue application
(37 CFR 1.48).
32.............. Request to correct or 21,000 1 21,000 0.20 (12 minutes).... 4,200 447 1,877,400
update the name of
the applicant under
37 CFR 1.46(c)(1),
or change the
applicant under 37
CFR 1.46(c)(2).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.. ..................... 2,435,597 ........... 2,435,597 ..................... 535,466 .............. 170,503,027
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 2023 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property Law Association
(AIPLA); pg. F-41. The USPTO uses the average billing rate for intellectual property work in all firms which is $447 per hour (https://www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/economic-survey). 2022 National Utilization and Compensation Survey Report published by the National Association of Legal
Assistants (NALA); pg. 38. The USPTO uses the average billing rate for paralegals/paraprofessionals, which is $122 per hour (https://nala.org/paralegal-info/).
Estimated Total Annual Non-Hourly Cost Burden: $363,821,958. There
is no capital start-up, maintenance costs, or recordkeeping costs
associated with this information collection. However, there is non-hour
cost burden in the way of filing fees and postage costs. The total
annual (non-hour) respondent cost burden for this collection is
estimated to be $363,821,958, which includes $363,579,616 in filing
fees, and $242,342 in postage.
Filing Fees
The fees in this information collection are listed in the table
below. The fee for Request for Prioritized Examination has no
counterpart in the hourly cost table due to that form being exempt from
the PRA.
Table 2--Filing Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Item No. Fee code Item annual Filing fee Non-hourly cost
responses ($) burden
(a) (b) (a) x (b) = (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..................... 1806 Information 85,540 $260 $22,240,400
Disclosure
Statements (IDS)
that require the fee
set forth in 37 CFR
1.17(p)
(undiscounted).
1..................... 2806 IDS that require the 22,173 104 2,305,992
fee set forth in 37
CFR 1.17(p) (small
entity).
1..................... 3806 IDS that require the 624 52 32,448
fee set forth in 37
CFR 1.17(p) (micro
entity).
3..................... 1251 One-month Extension 62,740 220 13,802,800
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
3..................... 2251 One-month Extension 29,039 88 2,555,432
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (small
entity).
3..................... 3251 One-month Extension 3,509 44 154,396
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (micro
entity).
3..................... 1252 Two-month Extension 23,560 640 15,078,400
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
3..................... 2252 Two-month Extension 15,484 256 3,963,904
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (small
entity).
3..................... 3252 Two-month Extension 1,922 128 246,016
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (micro
entity).
3..................... 1253 Three-month Extension 20,377 1,480 30,157,960
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
3..................... 2253 Three-month Extension 23,002 592 13,617,184
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (small
entity).
[[Page 5504]]
3..................... 3253 Three-month Extension 2,558 296 757,168
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (micro
entity).
3..................... 1254 Four-month Extension 1,810 2,320 4,199,200
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
3..................... 2254 Four-month Extension 2,196 928 2,037,888
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (small
entity).
3..................... 3254 Four-month Extension 266 464 123,424
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (micro
entity).
3..................... 1255 Five-month Extension 3,039 3,160 9,603,240
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a)
(undiscounted).
3..................... 2255 Five-month Extension 3,176 1,264 4,014,464
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (small
entity).
3..................... 3255 Five-month Extension 206 632 130,192
of Time under 37 CFR
1.136(a) (micro
entity).
5..................... 1814 Statutory Disclaimers 36,105 170 6,137,850
(including terminal
disclaimers)
(undiscounted).
5..................... 2814 Statutory Disclaimers 13,175 170 2,239,750
(including terminal
disclaimers) (small
entity).
5..................... 3814 Statutory Disclaimers 670 170 113,900
(including terminal
disclaimers) (micro
entity).
6..................... 1802 Request for Expedited 713 1,600 1,140,800
Examination of a
Design Application
(undiscounted).
6..................... 2802 Request for Expedited 1,426 640 912,640
Examination of a
Design Application
(small entity).
6..................... 3802 Request for Expedited 5,088 320 1,628,160
Examination of a
Design Application
(micro entity).
7..................... 1453 Petition for Revival 2,323 2,100 4,878,300
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
Unintentionally
(undiscounted).
7..................... 2453 Petition for Revival 3,388 840 2,845,920
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
Unintentionally
(small entity).
7..................... 3453 Petition for Revival 1,313 420 551,460
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
Unintentionally
(micro entity).
8..................... 1453 Petition for Revival 94 2,100 197,400
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
for Failure to
Notify the Office of
a Foreign or
International Filing
(undiscounted).
8..................... 2453 Petition for Revival 19 840 15,960
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
for Failure to
Notify the Office of
a Foreign or
International Filing
(small entity).
8..................... 3453 Petition for Revival 12 420 5,040
of an Application
for Patent Abandoned
for Failure to
Notify the Office of
a Foreign or
International Filing
(micro entity).
16.................... 1808 Copy of File Content 1 140 140
Showing Redactions
(undiscounted).
16.................... 2808 Copy of File Content 1 140 140
Showing Redactions
(small entity).
16.................... 3808 Copy of File Content 1 140 140
Showing Redactions
(micro entity).
18.................... 1801 Request for Continued 70,734 1,360 96,198,240
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal (First
Request)
(undiscounted).
18.................... 2801 Request for Continued 19,673 544 10,702,112
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal (First
Request) (small
entity).
18.................... 3801 Request for Continued 1,992 272 541,824
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal (First
Request) (micro
entity).
18.................... 1820 Request for Continued 29,979 2,000 59,958,000
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal (Second
and Subsequent
Requests)
(undiscounted).
18.................... 2820 Request for Continued 8,985 800 7,188,000
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal (Second
and Subsequent
Requests) (small
entity).
18.................... 3820 Request for Continued 637 400 254,800
Examination (RCE)
Transmittal (Second
and Subsequent
Requests) (micro
entity).
19.................... 1830 Request for 354 140 49,560
Suspension of Action
or Deferral of
Examination Under 37
CFR 1.103(b), (c),
or (d)
(undiscounted).
19.................... 2830 Request for 245 56 13,720
Suspension of Action
or Deferral of
Examination Under 37
CFR 1.103(b), (c),
or (d) (small
entity).
19.................... 3830 Request for 31 28 868
Suspension of Action
or Deferral of
Examination Under 37
CFR 1.103(b), (c),
or (d) (micro
entity).
[[Page 5505]]
20.................... 1803 Request for Voluntary 157 140 21,980
Publication or
Republication
(includes
publication fee for
republication)
(undiscounted).
20.................... 2803 Request for Voluntary 19 140 2,660
Publication or
Republication
(includes
publication fee for
republication)
(small entity).
20.................... 3803 Request for Voluntary 4 140 560
Publication or
Republication
(includes
publication fee for
republication)
(micro entity).
22.................... 1830 Processing Fee Under 56 140 7,840
37 CFR 1.17(i)
Transmittal
(undiscounted).
22.................... 2830 Processing Fee Under 39 56 2,184
37 CFR 1.17(i)
Transmittal (small
entity).
22.................... 3830 Processing Fee Under 5 28 140
37 CFR 1.17(i)
Transmittal (micro
entity).
29.................... 1810 For each additional 1 880 880
invention to be
examined (see 37 CFR
1.129(b))
(undiscounted).
29.................... 2810 For each additional 1 352 352
invention to be
examined (see 37 CFR
1.129(b)) (small
entity).
29.................... 3810 For each additional 1 176 176
invention to be
examined (see 37 CFR
1.129(b)) (micro
entity).
29.................... 1809 Filing a submission 17 880 14,960
after final
rejection (see 37
CFR 1.129(a))
(undiscounted).
29.................... 2809 Filing a submission 20 352 7,040
after final
rejection (see 37
CFR 1.129(a)) (small
entity).
29.................... 3809 Filing a submission 6 176 1,056
after final
rejection (see 37
CFR 1.129(a)) (micro
entity).
30.................... 1819 Correction of 793 640 507,520
inventorship after
first office action
on the merits
(undiscounted).
30.................... 2819 Correction of 617 256 157,952
inventorship after
first office action
on the merits (small
entity).
30.................... 3819 Correction of 60 128 7,680
inventorship after
first office action
on the merits (micro
entity).
31.................... 1830 Request for 7,122 140 997,080
correction in a
patent application
relating to
inventorship or an
inventor name, or
order of names,
other than in a
reissue application
(37 CFR 1.48) (non-
provisional)
(undiscounted).
31.................... 2830 Request for 5,180 56 290,080
correction in a
patent application
relating to
inventorship or an
inventor name, or
order of names,
other than in a
reissue application
(37 CFR 1.48) (non-
provisional) (small
entity).
31.................... 3803 Request for 648 28 18,144
correction in a
patent application
relating to
inventorship or an
inventor name, or
order of names,
other than in a
reissue application
(37 CFR 1.48) (non-
provisional) (micro
entity).
31.................... 1807 Request for 5,550 50 277,500
correction in a
patent application
relating to
inventorship or an
inventor name, or
order of names,
other than in a
reissue application
(37 CFR 1.48)
(provisional).
N/A................... 1817 Request for 6,481 4,200 27,220,200
prioritized
examination
(undiscounted).
N/A................... 2817 Request for 7,491 1,680 12,584,880
prioritized
examination (small
entity).
N/A................... 3817 Request for 1,028 840 863,520
prioritized
examination (micro
entity).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals............ .............. ..................... 533,476 .............. 363,579,616
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postage Costs
Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this information
collection be submitted electronically, responses may be submitted by
mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPTO
estimates that 1% of the 2,435,597 items will be submitted in the mail
resulting in 24,356 mailed items. The USPTO estimates that the average
postage cost for a mailed submission, using a Priority Mail flat rate
legal envelope, will be $9.95. Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the
total mailing costs for this information collection is $242,342.
IV. Request for Comments
The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
(a) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of
the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who
[[Page 5506]]
are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the
request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including
an address, phone number, email address, or other personally
identifiable information (PII) in a comment, be aware that the entire
comment--including PII--may be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask in your comment to withhold PII from public view,
USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
Justin Isaac,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-01722 Filed 1-26-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
