[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68419-68422]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-27214]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office


Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) Actions

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 this 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 January 13, 
2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0040 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 LaToya Brown, Technical Quality Review Analyst, 
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, United States Patent and Trademark 
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-
272-4283; or by email 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

    This collection of information is required by the Trademark Act of 
1946, Sections 13, 14, and 20, 15 U.S.C. 1063, 1064, and 1070, 
respectively. Under the Trademark Act, any individual or entity that 
adopts a trademark or service mark to identify its goods or services 
may apply to federally register its mark. Section 14 of the Trademark 
Act allows individuals and entities to file a petition to cancel a 
registration of a mark, while Section 13 allows individuals and 
entities who believe that they would be damaged by the registration of 
a mark to file an opposition, or an extension of time to file an 
opposition, to the registration of a mark. Section 20 of the Trademark 
Act allows individuals and entities to file an appeal from any final 
decision of the Trademark Examining Attorney assigned to review an 
application for registration of a mark.
    The USPTO administers the Trademark Act pursuant to 37 CFR Part 2, 
which contains the various rules that

[[Page 68420]]

govern the filing of petitions to cancel the registration of a mark, 
notices of opposition to the registration of a mark, extensions of time 
to file an opposition, appeals, and other papers filed in connection 
with inter partes and ex partes proceedings. These petitions, notices, 
extensions, and additional papers are filed with the Trademark Trial 
and Appeal Board (TTAB), an administrative tribunal empowered to 
determine the right to register and subsequently determine the validity 
of a trademark.
    The information in this collection can be submitted in paper format 
or electronically through the Electronic System for Trademark Trials 
and Appeals (ESTTA). There are no paper forms associated with this 
collection. However, the TTAB has suggested formats for the Petition to 
Cancel and the Notice of Opposition that individuals and entities can 
use when submitting these petitions and notices to the TTAB. These are 
not forms and, as such, do not have form numbers. If applicants or 
entities wish to submit the petitions, notices, extensions, and 
additional papers in inter partes and ex parte cases electronically, 
they must use the forms provided through ESTTA. Oppositions to 
extensions of protection under the Madrid Protocol, as well as requests 
for extensions to oppose, must be filed electronically through ESTTA. 
This collection contains two suggested formats and six electronic 
forms.
    The additional papers filed in inter partes and ex parte 
proceedings can be filed in paper or electronically. Although the 
number of paper filings is decreasing in favor of electronic filings, 
there still are a small percentage of paper submissions.
    The information in this collection is a matter of public record, 
and is used by the public for a variety of private business purposes 
related to establishing and enforcing trademark rights. This 
information is important to the public, as both common law trademark 
owners and federal trademark registrants must actively protect their 
own rights.

II. Method of Collection

    By mail, hand delivery, or electronically through ESTTA when a 
party files a petition to cancel a trademark registration, an 
opposition to the registration of a trademark, a request to extend the 
time to file an opposition, a notice of appeal, or additional papers 
for inter partes and ex parte proceedings with the USPTO. However, 
notices of opposition and extensions of time to file notices of 
opposition against the extensions of protection under the Madrid 
Protocol must be filed electronically through ESTTA. Only notices of 
appeal for ex parte appeals can be submitted by facsimile, in 
accordance with 37 CFR 2.195(d)(3).

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0040.
    Form Number(s): PTO 2120, 2151, 2153, 2188, 2189, and 2190.
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for profits; non-profit 
institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 76,017 responses per year. Of this 
total, the USPTO estimates that approximately 92% (70,100) will be 
filed electronically.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
the public from 10 to 30 minutes (0.17 to 0.50 hours), depending on the 
complexity of the situation, to gather the necessary information, 
prepare the appropriate documents, and submit the information required 
for this collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 15,524 hours per 
year.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $3,974,144. The 
USPTO estimates that it will take a 50/50 level of effort by attorneys 
and paraprofessional/paralegals to complete the requirements in this 
collection. The hourly rate for attorneys is $389, while the hourly 
rate for paraprofessional/paralegals is $122. After calculating the 
average of these rates, the USPTO estimates that the hourly rate for 
completing the petitions, notices, requests, and other papers will be 
$256. Using this hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the total 
respondent cost burden for this collection will be $3,974,144 per year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                Estimated time     Estimated        Estimated
                             Item                                for response        annual       annual burden
                                                                  (minutes)        responses          hours
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Petition to Cancel...........................................               30               77               39
Electronic Petition to Cancel................................               30            1,500              750
Notice of Opposition.........................................               30              140               70
Electronic Notice of Opposition..............................               30            5,500            2,750
Extension of Time to File an Opposition......................               10               70               12
Electronic Request for Extension of Time to File an                         10           17,000            2,890
 Opposition..................................................
Papers in Inter Partes Cases.................................               10            3,100              527
     Answers
     Amendments to Pleadings
     Amendment of Application or Registration During
     Proceeding
     Motions (such as consent motions, motions to
     extend, motions to suspend, etc.)
     Evidence
     Briefs
     Surrender of Registration
     Abandonment of Application
     Documents Related to Concurrent Use Applications
     Notice of Intent to Appeal a TTAB decision
Electronic Papers in Inter Partes Cases......................               10           37,000            6,290
     Answers
     Amendments to Pleadings
     Amendment of Application or Registration During
     Proceeding
     Motions (such as consent motions, motions to
     extend, motions to suspend, etc.)
     Evidence
     Briefs
     Surrender of Registration
     Abandonment of Application
     Documents Related to Concurrent Use Applications
     Notice of Intent to Appeal a TTAB decision

[[Page 68421]]

 
Notice of Appeal.............................................               15              130               33
Electronic Notice of Appeal..................................               15            2,600              650
Miscellaneous Ex Parte Papers................................               10            2,400              408
Electronic Miscellaneous Ex Parte Papers.....................               10            6,500            1,105
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
        Totals...............................................  ...............           76,017           15,524
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    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: 
$2,453,224. There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or record 
keeping costs associated with this information collection. However, 
this collection does have annual (non-hour) costs in the form of 
postage as well as filing fees.
    The petitions to cancel, the notices of opposition and appeal, the 
extensions of time to file an opposition, and the additional papers 
filed in inter partes and ex partes cases may be submitted to the USPTO 
or served on other parties by Express or first-class mail through the 
United States Postal Service. These papers can also be hand delivered 
to the TTAB. The USPTO estimates that 6% of the petitions, notices, 
extensions, and additional inter partes and ex parte papers that are 
filed in paper will be submitted using Express Mail. The USPTO 
estimates that the average submission will weigh 2 ounces and that the 
respondent will be mailing the original to the TTAB and serving copies 
on the other parties involved in the proceedings. The USPTO estimates 
that it costs an average of $19.95 for a standard flat rate envelope to 
send the petitions, notices, extensions, appeals, and additional papers 
by Express Mail to the TTAB. To account for the service of papers on 
other parties, the USPTO is adding an additional 20% of the postage 
rate ($4) for an estimated cost of $23.95.
    The USPTO estimates the remaining petitions to cancel, the notices 
of opposition and appeal, the extensions of time to file an opposition, 
and the additional papers filed in inter partes and ex parte 
proceedings that are filed in paper (roughly 94%) will be sent by 
first-class mail. The USPTO estimates that the average submission will 
weigh 2 ounces and that the respondent will mail the original to the 
TTAB and serve copies on the other parties involved in the proceedings. 
The USPTO estimates that it costs 66 cents to mail the petitions, 
notices, extensions, appeals, and additional papers to the TTAB. To 
account for the service of papers on other parties, the USPTO is adding 
an additional 80% of the postage rate (53 cents) for an estimated cost 
of $1.19.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Postage costs    Total non-hour
                             Item                                 Responses           ($)          cost burden
                                                                           (a)              (b)      (a x b) (c)
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Petition to Cancel...........................................               77  ...............          $206.00
    6% @ $23.95..............................................  ...............           120.00  ...............
    94% @ $1.19..............................................  ...............            86.00  ...............
Notice of Opposition.........................................              140  ...............           349.00
    6% @ $23.95..............................................  ...............           192.00  ...............
    94% @ $1.19..............................................  ...............           157.00  ...............
Extension of Time to File an Opposition......................               70  ...............           175.00
    6% @ $23.95..............................................  ...............            96.00  ...............
    94% @ $1.19..............................................  ...............            79.00  ...............
Papers in Inter Partes Cases.................................            3,100  ...............         7,923.00
     Answers
     Amendments to Pleadings
     Amendment of Application or Registration During
     Proceeding
     Motions (such as consent motions, motions to
     extend, motions to suspend, etc.)
     Evidence
     Briefs
     Surrender of Registration
     Abandonment of Application
     Documents Related to Concurrent Use Applications
     Notice of Intent to Appeal a TTAB decision
    6% @ $23.95..............................................  ...............         4,455.00  ...............
    94% @ $1.19..............................................  ...............         3,468.00  ...............
Notice of Appeal.............................................              130  ...............           337.00
    6% @ $23.95..............................................  ...............           192.00  ...............
    94% @ $1.19..............................................  ...............           145.00  ...............
Miscellaneous Ex Parte Papers................................            2,400  ...............         6,134.00
    6% @ $23.95..............................................  ...............         3,449.00  ...............
    94% @ $1.19..............................................  ...............         2,685.00  ...............
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
        Totals...............................................            5,917  ...............        15,124.00
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[[Page 68422]]

    Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the total postage cost for this 
collection is 15,124 per year.
    There is also annual nonhour cost burden in the way of filing fees 
associated with this collection. The petitions to cancel and the 
notices of opposition and appeal have filing fees. There are no filing 
fees for the remaining items in the collection. The filing fees for the 
petitions to cancel, notices of opposition, and notices of appeal are 
per class of goods and services in the subject application or 
registration; therefore the total filing fees can vary depending on the 
number of classes. The total filing fees of 2,438,100.00 shown here are 
the minimum fees associated with this information collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Total non-hour
                             Item                                 Responses      Filing fee ($)    cost burden
                                                                           (a)              (b)      (a x b) (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Petition to Cancel...........................................               77          $300.00       $23,100.00
Electronic Petition to Cancel................................            1,500           300.00       450,000.00
Notice of Opposition.........................................              140           300.00        42,000.00
Electronic Notice of Opposition..............................            5,500           300.00     1,650,000.00
Extension of Time to File an Opposition......................               70             0.00             0.00
Electronic Request for Extension of Time to File an                     17,000             0.00             0.00
 Opposition..................................................
Papers in Inter Partes Cases.................................            3,100             0.00             0.00
     Answers
     Amendments to Pleadings
     Amendment of Application or Registration During
     Proceeding
     Motions (such as consent motions, motions to
     extend, motions to suspend, etc.)
     Evidence
     Briefs
     Surrender of Registration
     Abandonment of Application
     Documents Related to Concurrent Use Applications
     Notice of Intent to Appeal a TTAB decision
Electronic Papers in Inter Partes Cases......................           37,000             0.00             0.00
     Answers
     Amendments to Pleadings
     Amendment of Application or Registration During
     Proceeding
     Motions (such as consent motions, motions to
     extend, motions to suspend, etc.)
     Evidence
     Briefs
     Surrender of Registration
     Abandonment of Application
     Documents Related to Concurrent Use Applications
     Notice of Intent to Appeal a TTAB Decision
Notice of Appeal (Ex parte)..................................              130           100.00        13,000.00
Electronic Notice of Appeal (Ex parte).......................            2,600           100.00       260,000.00
Miscellaneous Ex Parte Papers................................            2,400             0.00             0.00
Electronic Miscellaneous Ex Parte Papers.....................            6,500             0.00             0.00
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
        Totals...............................................           76,017  ...............     2,438,100.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The USPTO estimates that the total (non-hour) respondent cost 
burden for this collection, in the form of postage costs and filing 
fees, is 2,453,224 per year.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval. All comments will 
become a matter of public record.
    The USPTO is soliciting public comments to: (a) Evaluate whether 
the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information will have practical utility; (b) Evaluate the accuracy of 
the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on those who are to respond, including through the use of 
appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.

    Dated: November 8, 2013.
Susan K. Fawcett,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2013-27214 Filed 11-13-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P