[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 190 (Wednesday, October 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56623-56624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-24850]


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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: Admittance to Practice and Roster of Registered Patent 
Attorneys and Agents Admitted to Practice Before the United States 
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
    Form Number(s): PTO-158, PTO-158A, PTO-275, PTO-107A, PTO-1209, PTO 
2125, PTO 2126, PTO 2149.
    Agency Approval Number: 0651-0012.
    Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 97,282 hours annually.
    Number of Respondents: 72,280 responses per year.
    Avg. Hours per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the 
registered practitioner or agent approximately 10 minutes (0.17 hours) 
to complete the forms for annual practitioner registration renewal, the 
request for

[[Page 56624]]

voluntary inactive status, and the request for restoration to active 
status from voluntary inactive status. It is estimated to take 2 hours 
(2.0) to complete the continuing education program by a registered 
attorney or agent with delinquency. It is estimated to take and 2 hours 
and 10 minutes (2.17 hours) to complete the continuing education 
program by a registered attorney or agent with delinquency and 
reinstatement, and 2 hours and 15 minutes (2.25 hours) for the paper-
based version of the annual practitioner registration/continuing legal 
education program--15 minutes (0.25 hours) to request the materials and 
an average of 2 hours (2.0) to complete the continuing legal education 
exam on paper. It is estimated to take 15 minutes (0.25 hours) for a 
sponsor to complete the application for pre-approval of a continuing 
education program. It is expected to take 6 hours (6.0) to complete the 
registration examination to become a registered patent practitioner. It 
is expected to take 40 hours (40.0) to complete the petition for 
reinstatement after disciplinary removal. These times include time to 
gather the necessary information, and prepare and submit the forms and 
requirements in this collection.
    Needs and Uses: This information is required by 35 U.S.C. 
2(b)(2)(D), administered by the USPTO through 37 CFR 10.5-10.11 and 
10.170. The information is used by the Director of the Office of 
Enrollment and Discipline (OED) to determine if the applicant for 
registration is of good moral character and repute; has the necessary 
legal, scientific, and technical qualifications; and is otherwise 
competent to advise and assist applicants in the presentation and 
prosecution of applications for patent grants. The USPTO is submitting 
this collection in support of a proposed rulemaking, ``Changes to 
Representation of Others Before the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office `` (RIN 0651-AB55). In this notice of proposed rulemaking, the 
USPTO is proposing to update the rules and procedures regarding the 
enrollment and recognition of individuals to practice as attorneys and 
agents before the USPTO in patent, trademark, and other non-patent 
matters. These proposed changes are also expected to improve how the 
USPTO handles applications for registration and petitions.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; 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, 
(703) 308-7400, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, Virginia 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 31, 2003 to David 
Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: September 24, 2003.
Susan K. Brown,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of Data Architecture and Services, Data 
Administration Division.
[FR Doc. 03-24850 Filed 9-30-03; 8:45 am]
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