[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 15 (Friday, January 23, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3332-3333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-1475]


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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: Deposit of Biological Materials.
    Form Number(s): N/A.

[[Page 3333]]

    Agency Approval Number: 0651-0022.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 3,501 hours annually.
    Number of Respondents: 3,500 responses per year. The USPTO expects 
that 3,500 patent applications on inventions dealing with deposits of 
biological materials will be filed each year. It is estimated by the 
USPTO that one depository will seek recognition every four years, or 
0.25 depositories will seek recognition annually.
    Avg. Hours Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it takes an 
average of one (1) hour for the average patent applicant respondent to 
collect and submit the necessary deposit information to the USPTO. The 
USPTO estimates that it will take the average depository seeking 
approval to store biological material an average of 15 minutes (.25 
hours) to gather and submit the necessary approval information to the 
USPTO.
    Needs and Uses: Information on the deposit of biological materials 
in depositories is required for (a) the USPTO determination of 
compliance with 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2), 35 U.S.C. 112, and 37 CFR Ch. 1, 
Subpart G, 1.801-1.809, where inventions sought to be patented rely on 
biological material subject to the deposit requirement, including 
notification to the interested public on where to obtain samples of 
deposits; and (b) in compliance with 37 CFR Ch. 1, Subpart G, 1.803 to 
demonstrate that the depositories are qualified to store and test the 
biological material submitted to them under patent applications. This 
information is used by the USPTO to determine whether or not the 
applicant has met the requirements of the patent regulations. In 
addition, the USPTO uses this information to determine the suitability 
of a respondent depository based upon administrative and technical 
competence, and the depository's agreement to comply with the 
requirements set forth by the USPTO. There are no forms associated with 
this collection of information.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households, businesses or other 
for-profit, not-for-profit institutions, and the Federal Government.
    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, 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 February 23, 2004 to David 
Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: January 16, 2004.
Susan K. Brown,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office 
of Data Architecture and Services, Data Administration Division.
[FR Doc. 04-1475 Filed 1-22-04; 8:45 am]
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