[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 162 (Monday, August 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50679-50680]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-21202]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Secrecy/License To Export

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), 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 October 20, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Thao P. Nguyen, Acting 
Records Officer, Office of Data Management, Data Administration 
Division, USPTO, Suite 310, 2231 Crystal Drive, Washington, DC 20231, 
by telephone (703) 308-7397.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Robert J. Spar, United States Patent and 
Trademark Office (USPTO), Washington, DC 20231, by telephone number 
(703) 305-9285.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    In the interest of national security, patent laws and rules place 
certain limitations on the disclosure of information contained in 
patents and patent applications and on the filing of applications for 
patents in foreign countries. The USPTO collects information to 
determine whether the patent laws and rules have been complied with, 
and to grant or revoke licenses to file abroad when appropriate. This 
collection of information is required by 35 USC 181-188 and 
administered through 37 CFR Ch. 1, part 5, 5.1-5.33.

II. Method of Collection

    By mail, facsimile, or hand carry when the applicant or agent files 
a patent application with the USPTO, submits subsequent papers during 
the prosecution of the application to the USPTO, or submits a request 
for a foreign filing license for a patent application to be filed 
abroad before the filing of a United States patent application.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0034.
    Form Number(s): N/A.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for 
profit; not-for-profit institutions; farms; Federal Government; and 
state, local or tribal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,858 total responses per year. Of 
this total, 2 per year for permit to disclose or modify secrecy order; 
4 per year for petition for rescission of secrecy order; 0 per year for 
general and group permits; 1,625 per year for petition for foreign 
filing license without a corresponding application on file; 128 per 
year for petition for foreign filing license on a corresponding 
application on file; and 99 per year for a petition for retroactive 
license.
    Estimated Time Per Response: It is estimated to take 2.0 hours for 
permit to disclose or modify secrecy order; 3.0 hours for permit for 
rescission of secrecy order; 1.0 hours for general and group permits; 
0.5 hours each for foreign filing license: petition for foreign filing 
license without a corresponding United States application, and petition 
for license with a corresponding United States patent; and 4.0 hours 
for a petition for retroactive license.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 1,289 hours per 
year.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $0 (no capital 
start-up or maintenance expenditures are required). Using the 
professional hourly rate of $175 for associate attorneys in private 
firms, the USPTO estimates $225,575 per year for salary costs 
associated with respondents.

[[Page 50680]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                    Estimated    Estimated
                                    time for       annual     Estimated
              Item                  response       burden       annual
                                     (HOURS)       hours      responses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Permit to Disclose or Modify               2              4            2
 Secrecy Order..................
Permit for Rescission of Secrecy           3             12            4
 Order..........................
General and Group Permits.......           1              0            0
Foreign Filing License: Petition           0.5          813        1,625
 for License no corresponding
 patent application.............
Foreign Filing License: Petition           0.5           64          128
 for License for corresponding
 patent application.............
Petition for Retroactive License           4            396           99
                                               -------------------------
    Totals......................  ............        1,289        1,858
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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: August 15, 2000.
Thao P. Nguyen,
Acting Records Officer, Office of Data Management, Data Administration 
Division.
[FR Doc. 00-21202 Filed 8-18-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P