[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68332-68333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-31644]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office


Request/Petition for Specialized Concurrent Handling Procedure

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 comment on this new information 
collection, 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 February 7, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, 
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5027, 14th and Constitution 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 or via the Internet at 
LE[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to the attention of Magdalen Greenlief, U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office, Office of the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for 
Patent Policy and Projects, Crystal Park 2, Suite 910, Washington, DC 
20231, by telephone at (703) 305-8813, by facsimile transmission to 
(703) 305-8825, or by e-mail to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The Patent and Trademark Office (PTO), in cooperation with the 
European Patent Office (EPO) and the Japanese Patent Office (JPO) is 
conducting a pilot program for concurrent searches to be performed on 
corresponding applications that are filed in the Trilateral Offices 
(PTO, EPO, and JPO). The emphasis of this pilot program is to promote: 
(1) Greater mutual understanding and further technical cooperation 
among the Trilateral Offices; (2) increased sharing of information 
among the Trilateral Offices; and (3) enhanced knowledge transfer with 
respect to both working methods and search tools. The Trilateral 
Offices agreed to limit the number of applications for the pilot 
program to 200 applications. The Trilateral Offices are evaluating the 
program to determine whether it should be expanded to include other 
types of applications. Prior to June of 2000, the pilot program will be 
evaluated by the Trilateral Offices to determine whether it should be 
modified or expanded.
    To assist applicants in requesting participation in the concurrent 
search pilot program, the PTO has created a form for this purpose. The 
form may be used in the PTO. The form, ``Request/Petition for 
Specialized Concurrent Handling Procedure'', permits the applicant to 
indicate the application numbers and filing dates of the corresponding 
applications filed in the EPO and the JPO, to indicate when the set of 
claims for concurrent search will be filed, and to authorize whether 
the PTO can communicate with the EPO and the JPO concerning any subject 
matter of the U.S. application and whether the patent examiners may use 
e-mail to communicate with each other regarding the applications 
referenced in this form.

II. Method of Collection

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

III. Data

    OMB Number: None.
    Form Number: PTO Form No. (form number not yet assigned).
    Type of Review: New information collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, businesses or other 
for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, farms, Federal state, local or 
tribal government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 200 responses per year.
    Estimated Time Per Response: It is estimated to take approximately 
12 minutes to complete a request/petition for specialized concurrent 
handling procedure for a particular application.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 40 hours per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost Burden: $0 (no capital start-up/
maintenance costs expenditures are required). $7,000 per year is 
estimated for salary costs associated with respondents.

[[Page 68333]]



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                                                                                     Estimated       Estimated
                          Title of form                           Estimated time   annual burden      annual
                                                                   for response        hours         responses
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request/Petition for Specialized Concurrent Handling Procedure..            0.20              40             200
    Totals......................................................  ..............              40             200
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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, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, e.g., 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: December 1, 1999.
Linda Engelmeier,
Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Office of the Chief Information 
Officer, Office of Management and Organization.
[FR Doc. 99-31644 Filed 12-6-99; 8:45 am]
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