[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 20743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10255]


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PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE


Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has submitted 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the 
following proposal for collection of information under the provisions 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
    Title: Recording Assignments.
    Form Number(s): PTO-1594 and PTO-1595.
    Agency Approval Number: 0651-0027.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 155,853 hours annually.
    Number of Respondents: 311,704 responses per year.
    Avg. Hours Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the 
public approximately 30 minutes (0.5 hours) to gather information, 
prepare, and submit a request to record an assignment document related 
to a patent, trademark, or application.
    Needs and Uses: This information collection supports the recording 
of assignment documents that affect and establish the transfer of 
ownership rights for patents, trademarks, and applications. In order to 
obtain all of the information necessary to record an assignment 
document accurately and efficiently, the USPTO has developed cover 
sheets for patent and trademark assignments that the public can use to 
submit their documents for recording. To record an assignment, the 
respondent must submit an appropriate cover sheet along with the 
assignment document. For assignments related to patents or patent 
applications, respondents may also prepare and submit cover sheets and 
supporting documents electronically using software available from the 
USPTO. All recorded assignment documents are available for viewing by 
the public, except for those documents that are sealed under secrecy 
orders or related to unpublished patent applications. The public uses 
this collection to submit assignment documents related to patents, 
trademarks, and applications for recording; to transfer ownership 
rights, title, and interest in a patent or trademark from one party to 
another; and to submit corrections of assignment cover sheets 
containing errors. The USPTO uses the information collected from the 
public to process and record documents related to the assignment of 
patents, trademarks, and applications; and to ensure that all relevant 
bibliographic data is entered in the associated files and the 
searchable public database of assignment information.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, businesses or other 
for-profits, not-for-profit institutions, farms, the federal 
government, and state, local, or tribal governments.
    Frequency: On occasion for recordkeeping and reporting.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.
    Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained 
by calling or writing Susan K. Brown, Records Officer, Office of Data 
Management, Data Administration Division, USPTO, Suite 310, 2231 
Crystal Drive, Washington, DC 20231, by phone at (703) 308-7400, or by 
e-mail at [email protected].
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent on or before May 28, 2002, to David Rostker, 
OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: April 19, 2002.
Susan K. Brown,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of Data Management, Data Administration 
Division.
[FR Doc. 02-10255 Filed 4-25-02; 8:45 am]
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