[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 161 (Monday, August 19, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42807-42808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-21067]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
37 CFR Parts 15 and 15a

[Docket No. 960722200-6200-01]
RIN 0651-XX07


Service of Process; Testimony by Employees and the Production of 
Documents in Legal Proceedings

AGENCY: Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This final rule removes parts dealing with service of process 
on Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) employees in their official 
capacity and with testimony by employees and production of documents in 
legal proceedings. The PTO will rely on analogous Commerce Department 
regulations found in title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: August 19, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 Kenneth Corsello by telephone at (703) 305-9041; by mail marked to his 
attention and addressed to the Office of the Solicitor, Box 8, 
Washington, D.C. 20231; by electronic mail to [email protected]; or by 
fax marked to his attention at (703) 305-9373.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In March 1995, President Clinton issued a 
directive to Federal agencies regarding their responsibilities under 
his Regulatory Reform Initiative. This initiative is part of the 
National Performance Review and calls for immediate, comprehensive 
regulatory reform. The President directed all agencies to undertake, as 
part of this initiative, an exhaustive review of all of their 
regulations--with an emphasis on eliminating or modifying those that 
are obsolete or otherwise in need of reform. This final rule is part of 
the Regulatory Reform Initiative.
    The Department of Commerce regulations dealing with service of 
process (15 CFR Part 15) and with employee testimony and the production 
of documents (15 CFR Part 15a) apply to the PTO. Therefore, the PTO is 
removing 37 CFR Parts 15 and 15a because they are unnecessary and 
duplicative.
    This rule is not a significant rule for the purposes of Executive 
Order 12866. Notice and comment is not required for this rulemaking 
because it relates to agency management or personnel, 5 U.S.C. 
553(a)(2), and thus no regulatory flexibility analysis is required, 5 
U.S.C. 603(a). This rule does not change the paperwork burden imposed 
on the public. See 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

List of Subjects

37 CFR Part 15

    Administrative practice and procedure, Attorneys, Courts, 
Government employees.

37 CFR Part 15a

    Administrative practice and procedure, Attorneys, Courts, 
Government employees.

    For the reasons set forth in the preamble, and pursuant to the 
authority

[[Page 42808]]

contained in 35 U.S.C. 6, 37 CFR Chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 15--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]

    1. Part 15 is removed and reserved.

PART 15a--[REMOVED AND RESERVED]

    1. Part 15a is removed and reserved.

    Dated: August 13, 1996.
Bruce A. Lehman,
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and 
Trademarks.
[FR Doc. 96-21067 Filed 8-16-96; 8:45 am]
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