[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 50 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11467-11469]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6114]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Air Force


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Department of the Air Force, DOD.

ACTION: Notice to alter systems of records.

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SUMMARY: The Department of the Air Force is proposing to alter a system 
of records notice in its existing inventory of record systems subject 
to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as amended. The alteration 
revises the purposes for releasing records under the routine uses.

DATES: This proposed action will be effective without further notice on 
April 15, 2002 unless comments are received which result in a contrary 
determination.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to the Air Force Privacy Act Manager, AF-CIO/
P, 1155 Air Force Pentagon, Washington, DC 20330-1155.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mrs. Anne Rollins at (703) 601-4043 or 
DSN 329-4043.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of the Air Force systems of 
records notices subject to the Privacy Act of 1974, (5 U.S.C. 552a), as 
amended, have been published in the Federal Register and are available 
from the address above.
    The proposed system reports, as required by 5 U.S.C. 552a(r) of the 
Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, was

[[Page 11468]]

submitted on March 5, 2002, to the House Committee on Government 
Reform, the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, and the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to paragraph 4c of Appendix I to 
OMB Circular No. A-130, `Federal Agency Responsibilities for 
Maintaining Records About Individuals,' dated February 8, 1996 
(February 20, 1996, 61 FR 6427).

    Dated: March 8, 2002.
L.M. Bynum,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
F051  AFJA D

System name:
    Patent Infringement and Litigation Records (June 11, 1997, 62 FR 
31793).

Changes:
* * * * *

Categories of records in the system:
    Delete last sentence.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    Add to entry `Air Force Instruction 51-301, Intellectual Property--
Patents, Patent Related Matters, Trademarks and Copyrights.'
* * * * *

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    Delete entry and replace with `In addition to those disclosures 
generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these 
records or information contained therein may specifically be disclosed 
outside the DoD as a routine use pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as 
follows:
    To the U.S. Patent Office to the extent such disclosures are 
necessary for the processing and verification of patent applications.
    To the Department of Justice for the purpose of asserting and 
defending patent infringement action.
    The DoD `Blanket Routine Uses' published at the beginning of the 
Air Force's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this 
system.'
* * * * *

Storage:
    Delete entry and replace with `Case files are maintained in file 
folders. Correspondence and other data generated by the agency may be 
maintained in computer files. Information from case files may be 
extracted and entered into a database used to store general information 
for management purposes.'

Safeguards:
    Add to entry `Those records in computer storage devices are 
protected by computer system software.'
* * * * *
F051  AFJA D

System name:
    Patent Infringement and Litigation Records.

System location:
    Air Force Legal Services Agency, Commercial Litigation Division 
(AFLSA/JACN), 1501 Wilson Blvd, Suite 606, Arlington, VA 22209-2403, 
and
    Air Force Materiel Command, Directorate of Intellectual Property 
Law (AFMC LA/JAZ), 2240 B Street, Room 100, Wright-Patterson Air Force 
Base, OH 45433-7109.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    All claimants or petitioners who have alleged unlicensed use of 
their patents by the Air Force or who have brought suit against the 
United States concerning patent, trademark or copyright matters related 
to the Department of the Air Force.

Categories of records in the system:
    Letters; messages; forms; reports; contracts; bids; photographs; 
legal opinions; petitions; answers; discovery documents; memoranda; 
infringement studies; validity studies; procurement information; 
license agreements; other documents including but not limited to: 
Contract determinations, witness statements, and engineering and 
technical reports.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    10 U.S.C. 2386, Copyrights, patents, designs; 22 U.S.C. 2356, 
Foreign Assistance, acquisition; 28 U.S.C. 1498, Patent and copyright 
cases; 35 U.S.C. 183, Right to compensation; and Air Force Instruction 
51-301, Intellectual Property--Patents, Patent Related Matters, 
Trademarks and Copyrights.

Purpose(s):
    Purpose of the collection of information is to enable the United 
States and its officers and employees to investigate claims and/or 
defend the legal interests of the United States because of claims for 
compensation and litigation involving patent, trademark and copyright 
matters.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    In addition to those disclosures generally permitted under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(b) of the Privacy Act, these records or information contained 
therein may specifically be disclosed outside the DoD as a routine use 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(b)(3) as follows:
    To the U.S. Patent Office to the extent such disclosures are 
necessary for the processing and verification of patent applications.
    To the Department of Justice for the purpose of asserting and 
defending patent infringement action.
    The DoD `Blanket Routine Uses' published at the beginning of the 
Air Force's compilation of systems of records notices apply to this 
system.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Case files are maintained in file folders. Correspondence and other 
data generated by the agency may be maintained in computer files. 
Information from case files may be extracted and entered into a 
database used to store general information for management purposes.

Retrievability:
    Retrievable by name of claimant or litigant.

Safeguards:
    Records are accessed by custodian of the record system and by 
person(s) responsible for servicing the record system in performance of 
their official duties, and who are properly screened and cleared for 
need-to-know. Records are stored in security file containers/cabinets/
safes and controlled by personnel screening. Those records in computer 
storage devices are protected by computer system software.

Retention and disposal:
    Retained in office files for three years after end of year in which 
the case was closed, then retired to Washington National Records 
Center, Washington, DC 20409, for retention up to twelve years 
thereafter, then destroyed by tearing into pieces, shredding, pulping, 
macerating, or burning. Records in computer storage are destroyed by 
degaussing or overwriting.

System manager(s) and address:
    Chief, Commercial Litigation Division, Directorate of Civil Law, 
Air Force Legal Services Agency (AFLSA/JACN), 1501 Wilson Boulevard, 
Suite 606, Arlington, VA 22209-2403.

Notification procedure:
    Individuals seeking to determine whether information about 
themselves is contained in this system should

[[Page 11469]]

address written inquiries to or visit the Air Force Legal Services 
Agency, Directorate of Civil Law, Commercial Litigation Division 
(AFLSA/JACN), 1501 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 606, Arlington, VA 22209-
2403.

Record access procedures:
    Individuals seeking access to information about themselves in this 
system should address written inquiries to or visit the Air Force Legal 
Services Agency, Directorate of Civil Law, Commercial Litigation 
Division (AFLSA/JACN), 1501 Wilson Blvd, Suite 606, Arlington, VA 
22209-2403.

Contesting record procedures:
    The Air Force rules for accessing records, and for contesting 
contents and appealing initial agency determinations are published in 
Air Force Instruction 37-132; 32 CFR part 806b; or may be obtained from 
the system manager.

Record source categories:
    Information received from the individual, contractors, other 
government agencies, individual corporations (non-contractors) and from 
source documents.

Exemptions claimed for the system:
    None.
[FR Doc. 02-6114 Filed 3-13-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001-08-P