[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 206 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67522-67524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23528]
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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; Comments
Request; Substantive Submissions Made During Prosecution of the
Trademark Application
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments
on the extension and revision of an existing information collection:
0651-0054 (Substantive Submissions Made During Prosecution of the
Trademark Application). 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 December 22, 2020.
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-
0054 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Kimberly Hardy, 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 Catherine Cain, Attorney Advisor, United States
Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450;
by telephone at 571-272-8946; or by email to [email protected]
with ``0651-0054 comment'' in the subject line. Additional information
about this information collection is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers
the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., which provides for the
Federal registration of trademarks, service marks, collective
trademarks and service marks, collective membership marks, and
certification marks. Individuals and businesses that use or intend to
use such marks in commerce may file an application to register their
mark with the USPTO. Such individuals and businesses may also submit
various communications to the USPTO during the prosecution of an
application.
This information collection covers the various communications that
may be submitted by the applicant, including providing additional
information needed to process a request to delete a particular filing
basis from an application or to divide an application identifying
multiple goods and/or services into two or more separate applications.
This information collection also covers requests for a 6-month
extension of time to file a statement that the mark is in use in
commerce or petitions to revive an application that abandoned for
failure to submit a timely response to an office action or a timely
statement of use or extension request. This information collection also
covers circumstances in which an applicant may expressly abandon an
application by filing a written request for withdrawal of the
application.
The regulations implementing the Act are set forth in 37 CFR part
2. These regulations mandate that each register entry include the mark,
the goods and/or services in connection with which the mark is used,
ownership information, dates of use, and certain other information. The
USPTO also provides similar information concerning pending
applications. The register and pending application information may be
accessed by an individual or by businesses to determine the
availability of a mark. By accessing the USPTO's information, parties
may reduce the possibility of initiating use of a mark previously
adopted by another. The Federal trademark registration process may
thereby reduce the number of filings between both litigating parties
and the courts.
II. Method of Collection
Items in this information collection must be submitted via online
electronic submissions. In limited circumstances, applicants may be
permitted to submit the information in paper form by mail, fax, or hand
delivery.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0651-0054.
Forms: (PTO = Patent and Trademark Office)
PTO Form 1553 (Trademark/Service Mark Allegation of Use
(Statement of Use/Amendment to Allege Use))
PTO Form 1581 (Request for Extension of Time to File a
Statement of Use)
PTO Form 2194 (Petition to Revive Abandoned Application--
Failure to Respond Timely to Office Action)
PTO Form 2195 (Petition to Revive Abandoned Application--
Failure to File Timely Statement of Use or Extension Request)
PTO Form 2200 (Request to Delete Section 1(b) Basis, Intent to
Use)
PTO Form 2202 (Request for Express Abandonment (Withdrawal) of
Application)
PTO Form 2301 (Petition to Director)
Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information
collection.
Affected Public: Private sector; individuals or households.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 333,582 respondents per year.
Estimated Number of Responses: 333,582 responses per year.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
the public from approximately 27 minutes (0.5 hours) to 65 minutes (1.1
hours) to complete a response, depending on the complexity of the
situation. This includes the time to gather the necessary information,
prepare the appropriate documents, and submit the information to the
USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 208,219 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden:
$83,287,600.
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\1\ 2019 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the
Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American
Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); https://www.aipla.org/detail/journal-issue/2019-report-of-the-economic-survey. The USPTO uses the mean rate for attorneys in private firms
which is $400 per hour.
[[Page 67523]]
Table 1--Burden Hour/Burden Cost to Respondents
[Private sector]
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Estimated
Estimated annual Estimated time for Estimated Rate \1\ ($/ Estimated
Item No. Item annual responses response (hours) annual burden hour) annual burden
respondents (year) (hour/year)
(a) (b).................... (a) x (b) = c (d) (c) x (d) = e
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1.................... Trademark/Service Mark 70,451 70,451 0.9 (55 minutes)....... 63,406 $400 $25,362,400
Allegation of Use
(Amendment to Allege
Use/Statement of Use)
(PTO Form 1553).
2.................... Request for Extension of 172,942 172,942 0.5 (27 minutes)....... 86,471 400 34,588,400
Time to File a
Statement of Use (PTO
Form 1581).
3.................... Petition to Revive 12,924 12,924 0.9 (55 minutes)....... 11,632 400 4,652,800
Abandoned Application--
Failure to Respond
Timely to Office Action
(PTO Form 2194).
4.................... Petition to Revive 667 667 0.6 (35 minutes)....... 400 400 160,000
Abandoned Application--
Failure to File Timely
Statement of Use or
Extension Request (PTO
Form 2195).
5.................... Request to Delete 1,400 1,400 0.4 (25 minutes)....... 560 400 224,000
Section 1(b) Basis,
Intent to Use (PTO Form
2200).
6.................... Request for Express 5,600 5,600 0.4 (25 minutes)....... 2,240 400 896,000
Abandonment
(Withdrawal) of
Application (PTO Form
2202).
7.................... Request to Divide 2,400 2,400 0.6 (35 minutes)....... 1,440 400 576,000
Application.
8.................... Response to Intent-to- 2 2 1.1 (65 minutes)....... 2 400 800
Use (ITU) Divisional
Unit Office Action.
9.................... Response to Petition to 240 240 0.8 (45 minutes)....... 192 400 76,800
Revive Deficiency
Letter.
10................... Petition to the Director 160 160 0.9 (55 minutes)....... 144 400 57,600
(PTO Form 2301).
11................... Petition to Revive with 80 80 1.1 (65 minutes)....... 88 400 35,200
Request to Delete
Section 1(b) Basis or
to Delete ITU Goods/
Services/Collective
Membership Organization
After NOA.
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Total............ ........................ 266,866 266,866 ....................... 166,575 .............. 66,630,000
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Table 2--Burden Hour/Burden Cost to Respondents
[Individuals or households]
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Estimated
Estimated annual Estimated time for Estimated Rate \2\ ($/ Estimated
Item No. Item annual responses response (hours) annual burden hour) annual burden
respondents (year) (hour/year)
(a) (b).................... (a) x (b) = c (d) (c) x (d) = e
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1.................... Trademark/Service Mark 17,613 17,613 0.9 (55 minutes)....... 15,852 $400 $6,340,800
Allegation of Use
(Amendment to Allege
Use/Statement of Use)
(PTO Form 1553).
2.................... Request for Extension of 43,235 43,235 0.5 (27 minutes)....... 21,618 400 8,647,200
Time to File a
Statement of Use (PTO
Form 1581).
3.................... Petition to Revive 3,231 3,231 0.9 (55 minutes)....... 2,908 400 1,163,200
Abandoned Application--
Failure to Respond
Timely to Office Action
(PTO Form 2194).
4.................... Petition to Revive 167 167 0.6 (35 minutes)....... 100 400 40,000
Abandoned Application--
Failure to File Timely
Statement of Use or
Extension Request (PTO
Form 2195).
5.................... Request to Delete 350 350 0.4 (25 minutes)....... 140 400 56,000
Section 1(b) Basis,
Intent to Use (PTO Form
2200).
6.................... Request for Express 1,400 1,400 0.4 (25 minutes)....... 560 400 224,000
Abandonment
(Withdrawal) of
Application (PTO Form
2202).
7.................... Request to Divide 600 600 0.6 (35 minutes)....... 360 400 144,000
Application.
9.................... Response to Petition to 60 60 0.8 (45 minutes)....... 48 400 19,200
Revive Deficiency
Letter.
10................... Petition to the Director 40 40 0.9 (55 minutes)....... 36 400 14,400
(PTO Form 2301).
11................... Petition to Revive with 20 20 1.1 (65 minutes)....... 22 400 8,800
Request to Delete
Section 1(b) Basis or
to Delete ITU; Goods/
Services/Collective
Membership Organization
After NOA.
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Total............ ........................ 66,716 66,716 ....................... 41,644 .............. 16,657,600
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[[Page 67524]]
Estimated Total Annual (Non-Hour) Respondent Cost Burden:
$37,867,690. There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or
recordkeeping costs associated with this information collection.
However, this information collection does have annual (non-hour) cost
burden in the form of postage costs and filing fees.
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\2\ 2019 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the
Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American
Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); https://www.aipla.org/detail/journal-issue/2019-report-of-the-economic-survey. The USPTO uses the mean rate for attorneys in private firms
which is $400 per hour.
Table 3--Filing Fees--Non-Hour Cost Burden
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Estimated Estimated non-
Item No. Item annual Estimated fee hour cost
responses amount burden
(a) (b) (a) x (b)
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1............................. Trademark/Service Mark 27 $200 $5,400
Allegation of Use (Amendment to
Allege Use/Statement of Use)
(Paper).
1............................. Trademark/Service Mark 88,037 100 8,803,700
Allegation of Use (Amendment to
Allege Use/Statement of Use)
(TEAS).
2............................. Request for Extension of Time to 59 225 13,275
File a Statement of Use (Paper).
2............................. Request for Extension of Time to 216,118 125 27,014,750
File a Statement of Use (TEAS).
3............................. Petition to Revive Abandoned 5 200 1,000
Application--Failure to Respond
Timely to Office Action (Paper).
3............................. Petition to Revive Abandoned 16,150 100 1,615,000
Application--Failure to Respond
Timely to Office Action (TEAS).
4............................. Petition to Revive Abandoned 1 200 200
Application--Failure to File
Timely Statement of Use or
Extension Request (Paper).
4............................. Petition to Revive Abandoned 833 100 83,300
Application--Failure to File
Timely Statement of Use or
Extension Request (TEAS).
7............................. Request to Divide Application 1 200 200
(Paper).
7............................. Request to Divide Application 2,999 100 299,900
(TEAS Global).
10............................ Petition to the Director (Paper) 1 200 200
10............................ Petition to the Director (TEAS). 199 100 19,900
11............................ Petition to Revive With Request 1 200 200
to Delete Section 1(b) Basis or
to Delete ITU Goods/Services/
Collective Membership
Organization After NOA (Paper).
11............................ Petition to Revive With Request 99 100 9,900
to Delete Section 1(b) Basis or
to Delete ITU Goods/Services/
Collective Membership
Organization After NOA (TEAS
Global).
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Total....................... ................................ .............. .............. 37,866,925
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The filing fees for several items in this information collection
are charged per class of goods and/or services; therefore, the filing
fees will vary for each respondent depending on the number of classes.
The total filing fees of $37,866,925 shown here are based on the
minimum fee of one class for those items for which a fee is required.
Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this information
collection be submitted electronically, the items may, in limited
situations, be submitted by mail through the United States Postal
Service (USPS). The USPTO estimates that the average postage cost for a
mailed submission, using a Priority Mail 2-day flat rate legal
envelope, will be $8.05. The USPTO estimates that with a total of 95
permitted paper submissions, the postage costs in this information
collection will be $765.
The USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) respondent
cost burden for this information collection, in the form of postage
costs and filing fees is $37,867,690 per year.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
IV. Request for Comments
The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed 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 proposed 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. 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 personal identifying
information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment--including
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any
time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold personal
identifying information from public view, USPTO cannot guarantee that
it will be able to do so.
Kimberly Hardy,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2020-23528 Filed 10-22-20; 8:45 am]
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