[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 43 (Monday, March 4, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8261-8262]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4906]



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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent Processing (Updating)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 4, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Acting 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 
5327, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20230.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

    Request for additional information or copies of the information 
collection instrument(s) and instructions should be directed to Robert 
J. Spar, Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC 20231, (703)305-
9285.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    During the processing for an application for a patent, the 
applicant/agent may be required or desire to submit additional 
information to the Patent and Trademark Office(PTO) concerning the 
examination of a specific application. The specific information 
required or which may be submitted: Information Disclosure Citations; 
Terminal Disclaimers; Petitions to Revive; Express Abandonment; Appeal 
Notice; Small Entity; Petition for Access; Power to Inspect; 
Certificate of Mailing; Amendment Transmittal Letter; Deposit Account 
Order Form.

II. Method of Collection

    By mail, facsimile and hand-carry when the inventor(s) desires or 
is required to participate in the information collection.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0031. 

[[Page 8262]]


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                                                                  Estimated time                                
            Title of form                       Form No.           for response     Est. annual     Est. annual 
                                                                      (hours)      burden hours      responses  
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information Disclosure (in Appl'n)...  PTO/SB/08................             2.0         280,000         140,000
Information Disclosure (in patent)...  PTO/SB/42................             2.0           2,000           1,000
Statutory 7,500 Disclaimers..........  PTO/SB/43................             .20           1,500  ..............
Terminal Disclaimers.................  PTO/SB...................             .20           1,500           7,500
                                       25-26....................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                       62-63....................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Extensions of Time...................  PTO/SB...................             .10          11,000         110,000
                                       22-23,32.................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Petitions to Revive..................  PTO/SB...................             1.0           4,000           4,000
                                       61,......................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                       61/PCT,..................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                       64,......................  ..............  ..............  ..............
                                       64/PCT...................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Express Abandonment..................  PTO/SB/24................             .20             800           4,000
Small Entity.........................  PTO/SB...................             .30          18,000          60,000
                                       09-12....................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Petition for Access..................  PTO/SB/68................             .20               4              20
Power to Inspect/Copy................  PTO/SB/67................             .20           4,000          10,000
Certificate of Mailing...............  PTO/SB...................             .10         300,000          30,000
                                       92-93....................  ..............  ..............  ..............
Amendment Transmittal Letter.........  PTO/SB/21................             .20         200,000          40,000
Deposit 100,000......................  PTO/SB/91................             .20          20,000  ..............
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    Type of Review: Regular.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other non-
profit, not-for-profit institutions, and Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 659,020.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 385,804 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $116,766,376/year.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, and clarity of the information to be 
collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: February 27, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc 96-4906 Filed 3-1-96; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P