[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 77621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30785]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

37 CFR Parts 1, 3, 5 and 11

[Docket No. PTO-C-2013-0059]


Forum To Discuss Proposed Changes To Implement the Hague 
Agreement Concerning International Registration of Industrial Designs

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of meeting.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (``USPTO'' or 
``Office'') is convening a forum to discuss implementation of title I 
of the Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 (``PLTIA''). The 
PLTIA amends the patent laws to implement the provisions of the 1999 
Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning International Registration 
of Industrial Designs (``Hague Agreement'') and is to take effect on 
the entry into force of the Hague Agreement with respect to the United 
States. On November 29, 2013, the Office published a proposed rule in 
the Federal Register proposing changes to the rules of practice to 
implement title I of the PLTIA and seeking written comments on the 
proposals. The forum is an additional way for the public to learn about 
the Office's proposals in advance of the written comment deadline.

DATES: 
    Event: The USPTO will hold a forum in Alexandria, Virginia, on 
January 14, 2014, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), 
and ending at 12:00 p.m. EST.
    Registration: Registration for the forum is requested by December 
31, 2013.

ADDRESSES: 
    Event: The forum will be held at: Madison Auditorium, Concourse 
Level, United States Patent and Trademark Office Headquarters, 600 
Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
    Registration: Registration is required. Early registration is 
recommended because seating is limited. There is no fee to register for 
the forum, and registration will be on a first-come, first-served 
basis. Registration on the day of the event will be permitted on a 
space-available basis beginning 30 minutes before the event.
    To register, please go to: https://www.SignUp4.net/Public/ap.aspx?EID=610J10E and provide the requested information. Each 
attendee, even if from the same organization, must register separately. 
If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please inform 
the contact person identified below.
    The USPTO plans to make the forum event available via Web cast. Web 
cast information will be available on the USPTO's Internet Web site 
before the event.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Gerk, by telephone at 571-272-
9300, or by electronic mail message at [email protected], or Boris 
Milef, by telephone at 571-272-3288, or by electronic mail message at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Purpose: This document is to announce that a forum will be convened 
by the Office to discuss the proposed changes to the Office's rules of 
practice in order to implement title I of the PLTIA. See Changes To 
Implement the Hague Agreement Concerning International Registration of 
Industrial Designs, 78 FR 71870 (Nov. 29, 2013). Public comments will 
not be solicited for the forum. However, written comments to the 
proposed rules can be submitted on or before January 28, 2014, as set 
forth in the Office's notice of proposed rulemaking. While public 
attendees may have the opportunity to ask questions, group consensus 
advice will not be sought. Additional details regarding specific topics 
for the forum will be made available on the Office's Web site.
    Background: The Hague Agreement provides that an applicant may 
apply for design protection in all member countries and with 
intergovernmental organizations by filing a single, standardized 
international design application in a single language. Title I of the 
PLTIA amends title 35 to implement the provisions of the Hague 
Agreement and is to take effect on the entry into force of the Hague 
Agreement with respect to the United States. For the forum, the Office 
intends to provide information regarding the proposed rule changes to 
implement the PLTIA. Additional information concerning the proposed 
rules and the Hague Agreement, and any updates concerning the forum, 
can be found on the Office's Web site, www.uspto.gov.

    Dated: December 19, 2013.
Margaret A. Focarino,
Commissioner for Patents, performing the functions and duties of the 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2013-30785 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
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