[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40503-40504]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-19888]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office


Provisional Applications

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DoC), 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

[[Page 40504]]

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 
3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 29, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
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 instrument(s) and instructions 
should be directed to Robert J. Spar, Patent and Trademark Office 
(PTO), Washington, DC 20231, telephone number (703)305-9285.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Uruguay Round Agreements Act, Public Law 103-465, mandates a 
20-year patent term and provisional applications. The information in 
this collection is needed by the PTO to accurately identify and 
promptly and properly process provisional applications, as required by 
the Act.

II. Method of Collection

    By mail, facsimile or hand carry when the applicant or agent files 
a patent application with the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) or 
submits subsequent papers during the prosecution of the application to 
the PTO.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0037.
    Type of Review: Renewal without change.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, business or other non-
profit, not-for-profit institutions and Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,600.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 52,800 hours per 
year.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $1,584,000/year--no 
capital costs will need to be expended by respondents.

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 will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 23, 1997.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 97-19888 Filed 7-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P