[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 174 (Tuesday, September 9, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 53142]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-22879]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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: Secrecy and License to Export.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Agency Approval Number: 0651-0034.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 1,524 hours annually.
    Number of Respondents: 2,195 responses per year.
    Avg. Hours Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the 
public approximately 30 minutes (0.5 hours) to 4 hours to gather the 
necessary information, prepare the appropriate petition, and submit the 
completed request.
    Needs and Uses: This collection of information is required by 35 
U.S.C. 181-188 and administered through 37 CFR 5.1-5.33. 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 in foreign 
countries. When disclosure of an invention is determined to be 
detrimental to national security, the Director of the USPTO must issue 
a secrecy order and withhold the grant of a patent for such period as 
the national interest requires. 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. The 
USPTO is submitting this collection in support of a proposed rulemaking 
``Changes to Support Implementation of the USPTO 21st Century Strategic 
Plan'' (RIN 0651-AB64), which would support the use of electronic 
signatures on documents and increase the filing fees for petitions 
related to foreign licenses. The Petition for Changing the Scope of a 
License is also being added to this collection, but no forms are 
provided for this petition.
    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.
    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 the 
Chief Information Officer, Office of Data Architecture and Services, 
Data Administration Division, 703-308-7400, U.S. Patent and Trademark 
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313, Attn: CPK 3 Suite 310; or 
by e-mail at [email protected].
    Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information 
collection should be sent on or before October 9, 2003 to David 
Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 
725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: September 2, 2003.
Susan K. Brown,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office 
of Data Architecture and Services, Data Administration Division.
[FR Doc. 03-22879 Filed 9-8-03; 8:45 am]
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