[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 131 (Friday, July 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37100-37101]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17481]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration


Proposed Information Collection; Licensing of Government-Owned 
Inventions

AGENCY: Technology Administration, Commerce.

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 comment on a continuing information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, PL 104-
13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before September 7, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Department 
Forms Clearance Officer, Room 5327, Herbert C. Hoover Building, U.S. 
Department of Commerce, Washington, DC 20230 (or via Internet at 
LE[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Raubitschek, Department Patent 
Counsel, by telephone at (202) 482-8010.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    In 1980, the Bayh-Dole Act (PL 96-517) authorized all government 
agencies to license their inventions. Each applicant for a license must 
submit a marketing or development plan (35 U.S.C. 209(a)). In 1981, GSA 
issued a regulation to implement Bayh-Dole and obtained OMB approval 
for the collection of information under this regulation.
    The licensing regulation was reissued in 1985 by DOC after assuming 
the responsibility from GSA in 1984 (35 U.S.C. 208). The details of an 
application for a license appear in 37 CFR 404.8 and include a 
marketing or development plan. Although it takes time to develop an 
effective plan, we expect that most will have a plan in mind before 
applying for a license. Periodic utilization reports are authorized by 
37 CFR 404.5(b)(6).
    About 325 licenses in total are issued every year by Government 
agencies. There are about 1,500 active patent licenses and each license 
requires an annual utilization report.

II. Data

    OMB Number: None (previously cleared under GSA Control No. 8090-
0108).
    Form Number: None.
    Type of review: Regular submission of a collection in use without 
formal OMB approval.
    Affected Public: Any person or company seeking a patent license 
from the Government and any active licensee.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 400/yr applicants and 1,500/yr 
active licensees.
    Estimated Times Per Response: 2 hrs per applicant and 15 minutes 
per licensee.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 800 + 400 = 1,200 hrs.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $0 (no capital costs).

III. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the collected information is 
necessary to implement 35 U.S.C. 209; (b) the accuracy of the 
Department's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the 
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 on respondents.

[[Page 37101]]

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection. They will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: July 2, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Department Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer.
[FR Doc. 99-17481 Filed 7-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-18-P