[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 117 (Friday, June 17, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35411-35415]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-15016]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Applications for Trademark Registration

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part 
of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on the extension of a continuing information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 16, 2011.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0009 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the 
Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Catherine Cain,

[[Page 35412]]

Attorney Advisor, Office of the Commissioner for Trademarks, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 
22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-8946; or by e-mail to 
[email protected] with ``Paperwork'' in the subject line. 
Additional information about this collection is also available at 
http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

I. Abstract

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers 
the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., which provides for the 
Federal registration of trademarks, service marks, collective 
trademarks and service marks, collective membership marks, and 
certification marks. Individuals and businesses who use their marks, or 
intend to use their marks, in commerce regulable by Congress, may file 
an application with the USPTO to register their marks. Registered marks 
remain on the register indefinitely, so long as the owner of the 
registration files the necessary maintenance documents.
    The rules implementing the Trademark Act are set forth in 37 CFR 
part 2. The Act and rules mandate that each certificate of registration 
include the mark, the particular goods and/or services for which the 
mark is registered, the owner's name, dates of use of the mark in 
commerce, and certain other information. The USPTO also provides 
similar information to the public concerning pending applications. 
Individuals or businesses may access the register and pending 
application information through the USPTO's Web site to determine 
availability of a mark. Accessing and reviewing the USPTO's publicly 
available information may reduce the possibility of initiating use of a 
mark previously registered or adopted by another. Thus, the Federal 
trademark registration process may lessen the filing of papers in court 
and between parties. The information in this collection is available to 
the public.
    Trademarks can be registered on either the Principal or 
Supplemental Register. Registrations on the Principal Register confer 
all of the benefits of registration provided under the Trademark Act. 
Certain marks that are not eligible for registration on the Principal 
Register, but are capable of functioning as a trademark, may be 
registered on the Supplemental Register. Registrations on the 
Supplemental Register do not have all of the benefits of marks on the 
Principal Register. Registrations on the Supplemental Register cannot 
be transferred to the Principal Register, but owners of registrations 
on the Supplemental Register may apply for registration of their marks 
on the Principal Register.
    The information in this collection can be submitted in paper format 
or electronically through the Trademark Electronic Application System 
(TEAS) using a regular TEAS application form or a TEAS Plus application 
form. Applicants that file their applications using the TEAS Plus form 
pay a reduced filing fee if they file a complete application, agree to 
file certain communications regarding the application through TEAS, and 
agree to receive communications concerning the application by e-mail. 
TEAS Plus applications are only available for trademark/service mark 
applications. There are no TEAS Plus application forms available for 
the certification marks, collective marks, collective membership marks, 
and applications for registration on the Supplemental Register at this 
time. This collection contains three paper forms and six electronic 
forms.

II. Method of Collection

    Electronically if applicants submit the information using the TEAS 
forms. By mail or hand delivery if applicants choose to submit the 
information in paper form.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0009.
    Form Number(s): PTO Forms 4.8, 4.9, 1478, and 1478(a).
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits; and not-for-
profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 380,289 responses per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it takes the 
public approximately 18 minutes (0.30 hours) to 30 minutes (0.50 hours) 
to complete this information, depending on the application. This 
includes the time to gather the necessary information, prepare the 
application, and submit the completed request to the USPTO. The time 
estimates shown for the electronic forms in this collection are based 
on the average amount of time needed to complete and electronically 
file the associated form.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 132,106 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $42,934,450. The 
USPTO expects that associate attorneys will complete these 
applications. The professional hourly rate for attorneys in private 
firms is $325. Using this hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the 
total respondent cost burden for this collection is $42,934,450 per 
year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                              Estimated annual  Estimated annual
                    Item                       Estimated time for  response       responses        burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use-Based Trademark/Service Mark              30 minutes....................             2,342             1,171
 Application, including:
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application.
     Collective Trademark/Service
     Mark Application.
     Collective Membership Mark.....
     Certification Mark Application.
TEAS Use-Based Trademark/Service Mark         25 minutes....................            92,902            39,019
 Application, including:
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application.
     Collective Trademark/Service
     Mark Application.
     Collective Membership Mark.....
     Certification Mark Application.
TEAS Plus Use-Based Trademark/Service Mark    25 minutes....................            46,842            19,674
 Application.
Intent to Use Trademark/Service Mark          23 minutes....................             3,548             1,348
 Application, including:
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application.
     Collective Trademark/Service
     Mark Application.
     Collective Membership Mark.....
     Certification Mark Application.
TEAS Intent to Use Trademark/Service Mark     18 minutes....................           140,720            42,216
 Application, including:
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application.

[[Page 35413]]

 
     Collective Trademark/Service
     Mark Application.
     Collective Membership Mark.....
     Certification Mark Application.
TEAS Plus Intent to Use Trademark/Service     18 minutes....................            70,951            21,285
 Mark Application.
Application for Registration of Trademark/    25 minutes....................               379               159
 Service Mark under Sec.   44(d) and (e),
 including:
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application.
     Collective Trademark/Service
     Mark Application.
     Collective Membership Mark.....
     Certification Mark Application.
TEAS Application for Registration of          19 minutes....................            15,028             4,809
 Trademark/Service Mark under Sec.   44(d)
 and (e), including:
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application.
     Collective Trademark/Service
     Mark Application.
     Collective Membership Mark.....
     Certification Mark Application.
TEAS Plus Application for Registration of     19 minutes....................             7,577             2,425
 Trademark/Service Mark under Sec.   44(d)
 and (e).
                                             -------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..................................  ..............................           380,289           132,106
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: 
$117,791,578. There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or operating 
fees associated with this information collection. However, this 
collection does have annual (non-hour) cost burden in the form of 
postage costs, as well as filing and processing fees.
    Applicants incur postage costs when submitting the non-electronic 
information to the USPTO by mail through the United States Postal 
Service. The USPTO estimates that the majority (98%) of the paper forms 
are submitted to the USPTO via first class mail. Out of 6,269 paper 
forms, the USPTO estimates that 6,143 forms will be mailed, with a 
first class postage cost of 44 cents. Therefore, the USPTO estimates 
that the postage costs for this collection will be $2,703.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    Total cost
                              Item                                   Responses     Postage costs    (yr)  (a) x
                                                                     (yr)  (a)          (b)             (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use-Based Trademark/Service Mark Application, including.........           2,295            0.44       $1,010.00
     Trademark/Service Mark Application.................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark Application......
     Collective Membership Mark.........................
     Certification Mark Application.....................
Intent to Use Trademark/Service Mark Application, including.....           3,477            0.44        1,530.00
     Trademark/Service Mark Application.................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark Application......
     Collective Membership Mark.........................
     Certification Mark Application.....................
Application for Registration of Trademark/Service Mark under                 371            0.44          163.00
 Sec.   44 (d) and (e), including...............................
     Trademark/Service Mark Application.................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark Application......
     Collective Membership Mark.........................
     Certification Mark Application.....................
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
        Total...................................................           6,143  ..............        2,703.00
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    There is also annual (non-hour) cost burden in the way of filing 
fees associated with this collection. Applicants who choose to file 
their applications electronically instead of submitting them in paper 
pay a reduced filing fee. Those who choose to file TEAS Plus 
applications pay a further reduced fee. An application must include a 
filing fee for each class of goods and services. Therefore, the total 
filing fees associated with this collection can vary depending on the 
number of classes in each application. The total filing fees of 
$117,638,875 shown here are based on the minimum fee of one class per 
application.

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                                                                                             Total non-hour cost
                     Item                          Responses  (a)       Filing fee *  ($)    burden  (yr)  (a) x
                                                                               (b)                 (b) (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Use-Based Trademark/Service Mark Application,                  2,342               $375.00           $878,250.00
 including....................................
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Membership Mark.......

[[Page 35414]]

 
     Certification Mark Application...
TEAS Use-Based Trademark/Service Mark                         92,902                325.00         30,193,150.00
 Application, including.......................
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Membership Mark.......
     Certification Mark Application...
TEAS Plus Use-Based Trademark/Service Mark                    46,842                275.00         12,881,550.00
 Application..................................
Intent to Use Trademark/Service Mark                           3,548                375.00          1,330,500.00
 Application, including.......................
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Membership Mark.......
     Certification Mark Application...
TEAS Intent to Use Trademark/Service Mark                    140,720                325.00         45,734,000.00
 Application, including.......................
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Membership Mark.......
     Certification Mark Application...
TEAS Plus Intent to Use Trademark/Service Mark                70,951                275.00         19,511,525.00
 Application..................................
Application for Registration of Trademark/                       379                375.00            142,125.00
 Service Mark under Sec.   44(d) and (e),
 including....................................
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Membership Mark.......
     Certification Mark Application...
TEAS Application for Registration of Trademark/               15,028                325.00          4,884,100.00
 Service Mark under Sec.   44(d) and (e),
 including....................................
     Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Trademark/Service Mark
     Application..............................
     Collective Membership Mark.......
     Certification Mark Application...
TEAS Plus Application for Registration of                      7,577                275.00          2,083,675.00
 Trademark/Service Mark under Sec.   44(d) and
 (e)..........................................
                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------
Total.........................................               380,289  ....................        117,638,875.00
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* Note: All filing fees are based on per class filing.

    In addition, the USPTO charges a processing fee of $50 to process 
applications that were originally filed as TEAS Plus applications, but 
which failed to meet the requirements stated above. The USPTO estimates 
that out of the 125,370 TEAS Plus use-based, intent to use, and Sec.  
44(d) and (e) applications filed, 3,000 will be subject to the 
processing fee. A processing fee is charged for each class of goods and 
services in the application, so the total processing fee can vary 
depending on the number of classes. The total processing fees shown 
here are based on the minimum fee of one class per application. 
Therefore, the USPTO estimates that at a minimum, the processing fees 
will add $150,000 to the filing fees estimated above.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Total Non-hour
                              Item                                Responses (yr)  Processing fee    cost burden
                                                                                       * ($)           (yr)
                                                                             (a)             (b)       (a) x (b)
                                                                                                             (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEAS Plus Use-Based Applications That Do Not Meet TEAS Plus                1,121          $50.00      $56,050.00
 Requirements...................................................
TEAS Plus Intent to Use Applications That Do Not Meet TEAS Plus            1,698           50.00       84,900.00
 Requirements...................................................
TEAS Plus Application for Registration of Trademark/Service Mark             181           50.00        9,050.00
 under Sec.   44(d) and (e) That Do Not Meet TEAS Plus
 Requirements...................................................
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.......................................................           3,000  ..............      150,000.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: All processing fees are based on per class filing.

    The USPTO estimates that the total non-hour cost burden associated 
with the filing and processing fees for this collection will be 
$117,788,875.
    Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) 
cost burden for this collection, in the form of postage costs and 
filing and processing fees is $117,791,578 per year.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; 
(c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and

[[Page 35415]]

clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, e.g., the 
use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: June 13, 2011.
Susan K. Fawcett,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2011-15016 Filed 6-16-11; 8:45 am]
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