Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery, 51312-51313 [2024-13217]

Download as PDF 51312 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 117 / Monday, June 17, 2024 / Notices 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; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery public. The estimated number of annual responses and burden hours being requested are based on the number of information collections the USPTO expects to conduct over the period of this clearance. Each specific request for clearance under this generic information collection includes estimates for the following information: respondent types, number of respondents, number of responses, time per response, burden hours, and associated costs. 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: 0651–0080 (Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on Agency Service Delivery). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB. DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information collection must be received on or before August 16, 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: InformationCollection@ uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0080 comment’’ in the subject line of the message. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. • Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313– 1450. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information should be directed to Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Adminsitrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450; by telephone at 571–272– 7392; or by email at justin.isaac@ uspto.gov with ‘‘0651–0080 comment’’ in the subject line. Additional I. Abstract Executive Order 12862 (Setting Customer Service Standards) directs Federal agencies to provide services to the public that matches or exceeds the best services available in the private sector.1 In order to work continuously to ensure that its programs are effective and meet its customers’ needs, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) uses this generic clearance to collect qualitative feedback on its service delivery. Qualitative feedback refers to information that provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but is not in the form of statistical surveys which yield quantitative results that can be generalized to the population of study. The USPTO collects, analyzes, and interprets the information gathered to identify strengths and weaknesses of current services. Based on feedback received, the USPTO will identify operational changes needed to improve programs and services. The solicitation of such feedback will target areas such as: timeliness, appropriateness, accuracy of information, courtesy, efficiency of service delivery, and resolution of issues with service delivery. Collecting this feedback provides the USPTO with information on customer satisfaction. This feedback provides for ongoing, collaborative, and actionable communication between the USPTO and its customers and stakeholders. Additionally, it allows the USPTO to gather feedback in an efficient and timely manner. The information collected from external customers and stakeholders ensures that users have an opportunity to convey their experience with USPTO programs. This information collection also provides insights into customer or stakeholder perceptions, experiences, and expectations, which allows the USPTO to focus its attention on areas where communication, training, or changes in operations may be necessary. This information collection covers a variety of methods used by USPTO to obtain qualitative feedback from the OMB Control Number: 0651–0080. Forms: None. Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection. Affected Public: Individuals and households. Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 150,000 respondents. Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 150,000 responses. Frequency: On occasion. Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses in this information collection will take the public approximately 10 minutes (0.17 hours) to complete. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, create the document, and submit the completed item to the USPTO. Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 25,500 hours. Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $6,429,060. With each individual survey instrument/evaluation form submitted to OMB, specific burden estimates will be provided. These estimates will include the total number of respondents, frequency of collection, average minutes/hours per response, and total burden hours. 1 https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/ executive-orders/pdf/12862.pdf. 2 In this information collection the USPTO uses an average of the rates for intellectual property (IP) attorneys and pro se applicants. The wage rate for IP attorneys is taken from the 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/newspublications/economic-survey). The wage rate for pro se applicants is taken from the mean hourly wage ($57.24) for physical scientists according to the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (occupational code 19–2099); https://www.bls.gov/ oes/current/oes192099.htm#:∼:text =19%2D2099%20Physical%20Scientists%2C%20 All%20Other. United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce. ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES information about this information collection is also available at https:// www.reginfo.gov under ‘‘Information Collection Review.’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:00 Jun 14, 2024 Jkt 262001 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 II. Method of Collection The methods of collection include, but are not limited to, in-person surveys, telephone interviews, questionnaires, mail and email surveys, web-based products, focus groups, and comment cards. Depending upon the particular collection, these items may be completed electronically, in person, by phone, or by mailing items to the USPTO. III. Data E:\FR\FM\17JNN1.SGM 17JNN1 51313 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 117 / Monday, June 17, 2024 / Notices TABLE 1—TOTAL BURDEN HOURS AND HOURLY COSTS TO INDIVIDUAL AND HOUSEHOLD RESPONDENTS Item No. 1 ........................ Item Respondents ........... Estimated annual respondent Responses per respondent Estimated annual responses Estimated time for response (hours) Estimated burden (hour/year) Rate 2 ($/hour) Estimated annual respondent cost burden (a) (b) (a) × (b) = (c) (d) (c) × (d) = (e) (f) (e) × (f) = (g) 150,000 1 150,000 0.17 25,500 $252.12 $6,429,060 Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-Hourly Cost Burden: $0. There are no capital start-up, maintenance costs, recordkeeping costs, filing fees, or postage costs associated with this information collection. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 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 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. The 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, the 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. 2024–13217 Filed 6–14–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510–16–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:00 Jun 14, 2024 Jkt 262001 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; Recording Assignments 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: 0651–0027 (Recording Assignments). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB. DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information collection must be received on or before August 16, 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: InformationCollection@ uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0027 comment’’ in the subject line of the message. • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. • Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313– 1450. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information should be directed to Joyce R. Johnson, Manager, Assignment Division, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313– 1450; by telephone at 703–756–1265 or by email at Joyce.Johnson@uspto.gov with ‘‘0651–0027 comment’’ in the subject line. Additional information about this information collection is also SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 available at https://www.reginfo.gov under ‘‘Information Collection Review.’’ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Abstract This collection of information is required by 35 U.S.C. 261 and 262 for patents and 15 U.S.C. 1057 and 1060 for trademarks. These statutes authorize the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to record patent and trademark assignment documents, including transfers of properties (i.e., patents and trademarks), liens, licenses, assignments of interest, security interests, mergers, and explanations of transactions or other documents that record the transfer of ownership of a particular patent or trademark property from one party to another. Assignments are recorded for applications, patents, and trademark registrations. The USPTO administers these statutes through 37 CFR 2.146, 2.171, and 37 CFR part 3. These regulations permit the public, corporations, other federal agencies, and government-owned or government-controlled corporations to submit patent and trademark assignment documents and other documents related to title transfers to the USPTO to be recorded. In accordance with 37 CFR 3.54, the recording of an assignment document by the USPTO is an administrative action and not a determination of the validity of the document or of the effect that the document has on the title to an application, patent, or trademark. Once the assignment documents are recorded, they are available for public inspection. The only exceptions are those documents that are sealed under secrecy orders according to 37 CFR 3.58, or related to unpublished patent applications maintained in confidence under 35 U.S.C. 122 and 37 CFR 1.14. The public uses these records to conduct ownership and chain-of-title searches. The public may view these records either at the USPTO Public Search Facility or at the National Archives and Records Administration, depending on the date they were recorded. The public may also search patent and trademark assignment information online through the USPTO website. E:\FR\FM\17JNN1.SGM 17JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 117 (Monday, June 17, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51312-51313]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-13217]



[[Page 51312]]

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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; Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback 
on Agency Service Delivery

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-
0080 (Generic Clearance for the Collection of Qualitative Feedback on 
Agency Service Delivery). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 
days for public comment preceding submission of the information 
collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information 
collection must be received on or before August 16, 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-
0080 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information 
should be directed to Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Adminsitrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-7392; or by email at 
[email protected] with ``0651-0080 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

    Executive Order 12862 (Setting Customer Service Standards) directs 
Federal agencies to provide services to the public that matches or 
exceeds the best services available in the private sector.\1\ In order 
to work continuously to ensure that its programs are effective and meet 
its customers' needs, the United States Patent and Trademark Office 
(USPTO) uses this generic clearance to collect qualitative feedback on 
its service delivery. Qualitative feedback refers to information that 
provides useful insights on perceptions and opinions, but is not in the 
form of statistical surveys which yield quantitative results that can 
be generalized to the population of study.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://www.archives.gov/files/federal-register/executive-orders/pdf/12862.pdf.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The USPTO collects, analyzes, and interprets the information 
gathered to identify strengths and weaknesses of current services. 
Based on feedback received, the USPTO will identify operational changes 
needed to improve programs and services. The solicitation of such 
feedback will target areas such as: timeliness, appropriateness, 
accuracy of information, courtesy, efficiency of service delivery, and 
resolution of issues with service delivery.
    Collecting this feedback provides the USPTO with information on 
customer satisfaction. This feedback provides for ongoing, 
collaborative, and actionable communication between the USPTO and its 
customers and stakeholders. Additionally, it allows the USPTO to gather 
feedback in an efficient and timely manner. The information collected 
from external customers and stakeholders ensures that users have an 
opportunity to convey their experience with USPTO programs. This 
information collection also provides insights into customer or 
stakeholder perceptions, experiences, and expectations, which allows 
the USPTO to focus its attention on areas where communication, 
training, or changes in operations may be necessary.
    This information collection covers a variety of methods used by 
USPTO to obtain qualitative feedback from the public. The estimated 
number of annual responses and burden hours being requested are based 
on the number of information collections the USPTO expects to conduct 
over the period of this clearance. Each specific request for clearance 
under this generic information collection includes estimates for the 
following information: respondent types, number of respondents, number 
of responses, time per response, burden hours, and associated costs.

II. Method of Collection

    The methods of collection include, but are not limited to, in-
person surveys, telephone interviews, questionnaires, mail and email 
surveys, web-based products, focus groups, and comment cards. Depending 
upon the particular collection, these items may be completed 
electronically, in person, by phone, or by mailing items to the USPTO.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0651-0080.
    Forms: None.
    Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals and households.
    Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 150,000 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 150,000 responses.
    Frequency: On occasion.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses 
in this information collection will take the public approximately 10 
minutes (0.17 hours) to complete. This includes the time to gather the 
necessary information, create the document, and submit the completed 
item to the USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 25,500 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $6,429,060.
    With each individual survey instrument/evaluation form submitted to 
OMB, specific burden estimates will be provided. These estimates will 
include the total number of respondents, frequency of collection, 
average minutes/hours per response, and total burden hours.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ In this information collection the USPTO uses an average of 
the rates for intellectual property (IP) attorneys and pro se 
applicants. The wage rate for IP attorneys is taken from the 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). The 
wage rate for pro se applicants is taken from the mean hourly wage 
($57.24) for physical scientists according to the data from the 
Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment and Wage 
Statistics (occupational code 19-2099); https://www.bls.gov/oes/
current/
oes192099.htm#:~:text=19%2D2099%20Physical%20Scientists%2C%20All%20Ot
her.

[[Page 51313]]



                                                      Table 1--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Individual and Household Respondents
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                Estimated
                                                                              Estimated       Responses    Estimated annual     time for     Estimated burden   Rate \2\ ($/   Estimated annual
               Item No.                               Item                      annual           per           responses        response        (hour/year)         hour)       respondent cost
                                                                              respondent     respondent                          (hours)                                            burden
                                                                                      (a)           (b)     (a) x (b) = (c)           (d)     (c) x (d) = (e)           (f)     (e) x (f) = (g)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1....................................  Respondents.......................         150,000             1             150,000          0.17              25,500       $252.12          $6,429,060
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-Hourly Cost Burden: $0. There 
are no capital start-up, maintenance costs, recordkeeping costs, filing 
fees, or postage costs associated with this information collection.

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 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. The 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, the 
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. 2024-13217 Filed 6-14-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
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