[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 189 (Friday, September 27, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50807-50808]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24782]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office


Practitioner Records Maintenance and Disclosure Before the PTO

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 November 26, 
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: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instruments(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Craig R. Feinberg, Patent and Trademark Office, 
Washington, DC 20231, (703) 308-5316, extension 10.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    These collections are necessary to insure compliance with the 
Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) Code of Professional Responsibility. 
The code requires that attorneys and agents maintain complete records 
of a client in accordance with 37 CFR Sec. 10.112(c)(3), and report 
violations of the Code and evidence of such violations to the PTO in 
accordance with 37 CFR Secs. 10.23(c)(16) and 10.24. The code further 
mandates that attorneys and agents cooperate with the Director of the 
Office of Enrollment and Discipline in connection with any 
investigation in accordance with 37 CFR Sec. 10.131(b).

II. Method of Collection

    By mail, facsimile, and hand carry, when an individual is required 
to participate in the information collection.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0017.
    Form Numbers: N/A.
    Type of Review: Reinstatement, with change, of a previously 
approved collection for which approval has expired.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 350 for recordkeeping maintenance, 
and 85 for violation reporting.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 9 hours for record keeping 
maintenance, and 1\1/2\ hours for violation reporting.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 3278 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $170,250.

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

[[Page 50808]]

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, utility, 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: September 19, 1996.
Linda Engelmeier,
Acting Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 96-24782 Filed 9-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P