[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 64 (Friday, April 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16473-16474]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8753]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office


Patent Application Bibliographic Data Entry Format (Proposed 
Addition to Package 0651-0032--Initial Patent Application)

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DOC) and the Patent and Trademark 
Office (PTO), as part of their continuing effort to reduce paperwork 
and respondent burden, invite the general public and other Federal 
agencies to comment on the proposed addition to a continuing 
information collection, as required by the 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 June 2, 1998.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
instructions should be directed to the attention of Jeff Cochran, 
Director, Office of Electronic Document Programs, telephone number 
(703) 306-3449 or by e-mail at [email protected]. All 
correspondence should be addressed to Patent Application Data Entry 
Format, c/o Jeff Cochran, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Crystal 
Park 3, Suite 700, 2231 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) plans to accept from 
applicants, on a voluntary basis, papers containing the bibliographic 
information for a patent application in a specific format termed a 
``Patent Application Data Entry Format.'' This format groups the 
bibliographic information into different information sections composed 
of headings and labels. Providing the bibliographic information for a 
patent application to the PTO in the Patent Application Data Entry 
Format will enable the PTO to automate the data entry process for the 
application. The purpose of the program is three fold. First, the 
system will improve the quality of Filing Receipt information mailed by 
the PTO to applicants. Second, the program will provide the PTO with 
experience in establishing a simplified system that completely captures 
the bibliographic information for all patent applications. Third, the 
system will accurately and directly feed this bibliographic information 
into the PTO's automated electronic information management systems.

II. Method of Collection

    The initial patent application may be filed by mail or hand-
delivery to the PTO, and a continued prosecution application may also 
be filed by facsimile. Papers submitted subsequently during the 
prosecution of an application may be filed by mail, facsimile, or hand-
delivery. The PTO is preparing a publication entitled Guide for 
Preparing the Patent Application Data Entry Format which describes the 
format and provides instructions for completing the information 
sections. Information concerning the Guide for Preparing the Patent 
Application Data Entry Format may be obtained by contacting Jeff 
Cochran (refer to the ``For Further Information'' section of this 
notice for the necessary details).
    The Patent Application Data Entry Format is not a PTO form, but a 
format for entering data. This format may be created either by directly 
typing the bibliographic information on blank sheets of paper in the 
specified format (using a typewriter or word processor), or by using 
electronic templates in a word processor. Applicants will be 
encouraged, but not required, to provide bibliographic information for 
applications in the Patent Application Data Entry Format. When this 
program is implemented, the PTO will provide a copy of the Guide for 
Preparing the Patent Application Data Entry Format, as well the 
electronic templates for Microsoft Word'' and WordPerfect'' word 
processing programs, on its Internet Web site.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0032.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Any individual filing a patent application.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 243,100 responses per year.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 7.88 hours. Please note that this 
figure is an average based upon the number of each type of application 
received by the PTO per year times the amount of time that it takes an 
applicant to complete each type of application. This total is then 
divided by the total number of applications submitted per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 1,915,500 hours per 
year.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $335,212,500 per 
year.

    Note: The addition of the ``Patent Application Data Entry 
Format'' does not change either the burden hours or the number of 
responses already reported for this collection. This format simply 
suggests a particular arrangement for the bibliographic data that is 
already requested in this collection, and as such, does not change 
or affect the burden hour estimates for this information collection.

IV. Request for Comments

    With respect to the following collections of information, comments 
are invited on: (a) whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the agency's functions, 
including whether the information will have practical

[[Page 16474]]

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, when appropriate, or other forms of 
information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 30, 1998.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of Management and 
Organization.
[FR Doc. 98-8753 Filed 4-2-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P