[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12643-12644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-5938]


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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: Legal Processes.
    Form Number(s): None.
    Agency Approval Number: 0651-0046.
    Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Burden: 29 hours annually.
    Number of Respondents: 157 responses per year.
    Avg. Hours Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the 
public approximately 5 minutes (0.08 hours) to 1 hour to gather the 
necessary information, prepare the appropriate documents, and submit 
the required information to the USPTO.
    Needs and Uses: This collection covers information requirements 
related to civil actions and claims involving current or former 
employees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The 
rules for these

[[Page 12644]]

legal processes may be found under 37 CFR part 104, which outlines 
procedures for service of process, demands for employee testimony and 
production of documents, reports of unauthorized testimony, employee 
indemnification, and filing claims against the USPTO under the Federal 
Tort Claims Act (28 U.S.C. 2672). The public uses this collection to 
serve a summons or complaint on the USPTO, demand employee testimony or 
documents related to a legal proceeding, or file a tort claim against 
the USPTO under the Federal Tort Claims Act. This collection is also 
necessary so that current and former USPTO employees may properly 
forward service and demands to the Office of General Counsel, report 
unauthorized testimony, and request indemnification. No forms are 
provided by the USPTO for submitting the information in this 
collection.
    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 April 16, 2004, to David 
Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 
725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: March 10, 2004.
Susan K. Brown,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office 
of Data Architecture and Services, Data Administration Division.
[FR Doc. 04-5938 Filed 3-16-04; 8:45 am]
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