[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 61 (Friday, March 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19246-19247]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07377]



[[Page 19246]]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of amendment of Privacy Act system of records.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the requirements of the Privacy Act of 
1974, as amended, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 
is amending the system of records currently listed under ``COMMERCE/
PAT-TM-8 Patent Application Secrecy Order Files.'' This action is being 
taken to update the Privacy Act notice. We invite the public to comment 
on the amendments noted in this publication.

DATES: Written comments must be received no later than April 29, 2013. 
The amendments will become effective as proposed on April 29, 2013, 
unless the USPTO receives comments that would result in a contrary 
determination.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``Privacy Act PAT-
TM-8 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Fax: (571) 273-7728, marked to the attention of Raul 
Tamayo.
     Mail: Raul Tamayo, Office of Patent Legal Administration, 
Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 
22313-1450.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

All comments received will be available for public inspection at the 
Federal rulemaking portal located at www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Raul Tamayo, Office of Patent Legal 
Administration, Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent 
Examination Policy, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 
1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, (571) 272-7728.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Patent and Trademark 
Office (USPTO) is giving notice of an amendment to a system of records 
that is subject to the Privacy Act of 1974. This system of records 
maintains information on patent applicants and their authorized 
representatives for applications that may fall under the secrecy 
provisions of 35 U.S.C. 181 through 183. The Privacy Act notice is 
being updated with the current address and departmental information for 
the system location and system manager. The routine uses of records 
maintained in the system have been updated to include use in law 
enforcement, audits and oversight activities, and distribution to 
contractors, all uses commonly published in other agency system of 
records notices. The rule references for the notification procedure, 
contesting record procedures, and exemptions have been updated to 
correspond to the current statutes and rules for those items as related 
to the USPTO.
    The amended Privacy Act system of records notice, ``COMMERCE/PAT-
TM-8 Patent Application Secrecy Order Files,'' is published in its 
entirety below.
COMMERCE/PAT-TM-8

System name:
    Patent Application Secrecy Order Files.

Security classification:
    Classified and Unclassified.

System location:
    Patent Examining Operation, Technology Center 3600, United States 
Patent and Trademark Office, 501 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Applicants including inventors, legal representatives for deceased 
or incapacitated inventors, and other persons authorized by law to make 
applications for patent.

Categories of records in the system:
    Identification of patent application and applicant including 
application serial number, filing date, title of invention, applicant's 
or inventor's address and addresses of applicant's duly appointed 
representatives.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    35 U.S.C. 1, 6, and 181 through 183.

Purpose(s):
    To carry out the duties of the USPTO under 35 U.S.C. 181 through 
183 regarding the disclosure or publication of applications or patents 
that may be detrimental to national security.
    Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including 
categories of users and the purposes of such uses:
    (1) Referral to authorized Government agencies under 35 U.S.C. 181 
for determination of the requirement for a secrecy order, and 
notification of the applicant or his duly appointed representative of 
such secrecy order.
    (2) Routine uses will include disclosure for law enforcement 
purposes to the appropriate agency or other authority, whether federal, 
state, local, foreign, international or tribal, charged with the 
responsibility of enforcing, investigating, or prosecuting a violation 
of any law, rule, regulation, or order in any case in which there is an 
indication of a violation or potential violation of law (civil, 
criminal, or regulatory in nature).
    (3) Routine uses will include disclosure to an agency, 
organization, or individual for the purpose of performing audit or 
oversight operations as authorized by law, but only such information as 
is necessary and relevant to such audit or oversight function.
    (4) Routine uses will include disclosure to contractors and their 
agents, grantees, experts, consultants, and others performing or 
working on a contract, service, grant, cooperative agreement, or other 
work assignment for the United States Patent and Trademark Office, when 
necessary to accomplish an agency function related to this system of 
records. Individuals provided information under this routine use are 
subject to the same Privacy Act requirements and limitations on 
disclosure as are applicable to the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office employees.
    (5) Routine uses will also include the Prefatory Statement of 
General Routine Uses Nos. 1-5 and 8-10, and 13, as found at 46 FR 
63501-63502 (December 31, 1981).

Disclosure to consumer reporting agencies:
    Not applicable.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
Storage:
    Paper records in file folders.

Retrievability:
    Filed by application serial number, cross-indexed to name of 
applicant.

Safeguards:
    Buildings employ security guards. Records are stored in a locked 
vault and maintained in areas accessible only to authorized personnel 
who are properly screened, cleared, and trained.

Retention and disposal:
    Records retention and disposal is in accordance with the series 
records schedules.

[[Page 19247]]

System manager(s) and address:
    Director, Patent Examining Technology Center 3600, United States 
Patent and Trademark Office, 501 Dulany Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Notification procedure:
    Information about the records contained in this system may be 
obtained by sending a request in writing, signed, to the system manager 
at the address above or to the address provided in 37 CFR part 102 
subpart B for making inquiries about records covered by the Privacy 
Act. Requesters should provide their name, address, and record sought 
(including social security or Patent Number, if known) in accordance 
with the procedures for making inquiries appearing in 37 CFR part 102 
subpart B.

Record access procedures:
    Requests from individuals should be addressed as stated in the 
notification section above.

Contesting record procedures:
    The general provisions for access, contesting contents, and 
appealing initial determinations by the individual concerned appear in 
37 CFR part 102 subpart B. Requests from individuals should be 
addressed as stated in the notification section above.

Record source categories:
    Subject applicants or their representatives and authorized 
representatives of the Department of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, 
and the Chief Officer of any other department or agency of the 
Government designated by the President as a defense agency of the 
United States.

Exemptions claimed for the system:
    Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 552a(k)(1), these records, since they relate 
to determinations pertinent to secrecy orders pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 181 
or to security classification pursuant to E.O. 12065 or the Atomic 
Energy Act of 1954 are exempted from the notification, access, and 
contest requirements of the agency procedures (under 5 U.S.C. 
552a(c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), and (f)). This 
exemption is made to prevent disclosure of information which might be 
detrimental to national security and in accordance with agency rules, 
which appear in 37 CFR part 102 subpart B.

    Dated: March 26, 2013.
Susan K. Fawcett,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-07377 Filed 3-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P