[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36782-36786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-15217]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Admission To Practice and Roster of Registered Patent Attorneys 
and Agents Admitted To Practice Before the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office (USPTO)

ACTION: Notice.

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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 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 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0012 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 Dahlia George, Office of Enrollment and 
Discipline, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Mail Stop OED, 
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-4097; 
or by email to [email protected]. 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 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(D), 
which permits the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to 
establish regulations governing the recognition and conduct of agents, 
attorneys or other persons representing applicants or other parties 
before the USPTO. This statute also permits the USPTO to require 
information from applicants that shows that they are of good moral 
character and reputation and have the necessary qualifications to 
assist applicants with the patent process and to represent them before 
the USPTO.

[[Page 36783]]

    The USPTO administers the statute through 37 CFR 1.21, 10.14 and 
11.5 through 11.12. These rules address the requirements to apply for 
the examination for registration and to demonstrate eligibility to be a 
registered attorney or agent before the USPTO, including the fee 
requirements. The Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) collects 
information to determine the qualifications of individuals entitled to 
represent applicants before the USPTO in the preparation and 
prosecution of applications for a patent. The OED also collects 
information to administer and maintain the roster of attorneys and 
agents registered to practice before the USPTO. Information concerning 
registered attorneys and agents is published by the OED in a public 
roster that can be accessed through the USPTO Web site.
    The information in this collection is used by the USPTO to review 
applications for the examination for registration and to determine 
whether an applicant may be added to, or an existing practitioner may 
remain on, the Register of Patent Attorneys and Agents.

II. Method of Collection

    By mail to the USPTO when the individual desires to participate in 
the information collection except for the Change of Address which will 
be collected electronically.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0012.
    Form Number(s): PTO-158, PTO-158A, PTO/275, PTO-107A, PTO-1209, 
PTO-2126, PTO-2149 and PTO-2150. Two new forms are being introduced 
into the collection are PTO-158T and PTO-158LS.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Businesses or other for-profits.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 25,855 responses per year.
    Estimated Time Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
the public approximately 1 minute (0.01667 hours) to 40 hours, 
depending upon the respondents needs, to gather, prepare, and submit 
the various documents in this information collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 34,530 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $2,603,170. The cost 
to respondents for taking the registration examination is estimated to 
be at the rate of $39 per hour, for a cost burden of $1,206,660. The 
USPTO estimates that the remaining items in this collection will be 
prepared by attorneys in private firms. Using the professional hourly 
rate of $389 for attorneys in private firms, the USPTO estimates 
$1,396,510 per year in respondent cost burden associated with the 
remaining items in this information collection.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                      Estimated time     Estimated                   Estimated
    Item                   Item               for response       annual         Rate      annual burden
                                                         (minutes)       responses                     hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.....................  Application for Registration              30           4,420      389.00           2,210
                         to Practice Before the
                         United States Patent and
                         Trademark Office (includes
                         both the computerized exam
                         and the USPTO-administered
                         exam) PTO-158.
1.....................  Application for Registration              30             100      389.00              50
                         to Practice Before the
                         United States Patent and
                         Trademark Office (former
                         examiners; examination
                         waived) PTO-158.
2.....................  Application for Registration              30             100      389.00              50
                         to Practice Before the
                         United States Patent and
                         Trademark Office Under 37
                         CFR 11.6(c) by a Foreign
                         Resident (examination
                         waived) PTO-158A.
3.....................  Application for Reciprocal                30              25      389.00            12.5
                         Recognition to Practice in
                         Trademark Matters Before
                         the United States Patent
                         and Trademark Office Under
                         37 CFR 11.14(c) by a
                         Foreign Attorney or Agent
                         (examination waived) PTO-
                         158T.
4.....................  Application for Registration              30              60      389.00              30
                         in the USPTO Law School
                         Program for Law Students to
                         Practice Before the United
                         States Patent and Trademark
                         Office Under 37 CFR
                         11.14(c) (examination
                         waived) (Law School
                         students only) PTO-158LS.
5.....................  Registration Examination to              420           4,420       39.00          30,940
                         Become a Registered
                         Practitioner.
6.....................  Undertaking under 37 CFR                  20             520      389.00        173.3333
                         11.10(b) PTO-275.
7.....................  Data Sheet--Register of                   10           1,995      389.00           332.5
                         Patent Attorneys and Agents
                         (individuals passing the
                         registration exam) PTO-107A.
7.....................  Data Sheet--Register of                   10             100      389.00         16.6667
                         Patent Attorneys and Agents
                         (foreign applicants) PTO-
                         107A.
7.....................  Data Sheet--Register of                   10             100      389.00         16.6667
                         Patent Attorneys and Agents
                         (former examiners seeking
                         registration) PTO-107A.
8.....................  Oath or Affirmation. PTO-                  5           2,195      389.00        182.9166
                         1209.
9.....................  Reinstatement to the                      10              30      389.00               5
                         Register. PTO-107R.
10....................  Written request for                       90              30      389.00              45
                         reconsideration and further
                         review of disapproval
                         notice of application.
11....................  Cover pages used for                       1           7,500      389.00             125
                         submitting correspondence
                         to OED (for documents
                         submitted with
                         applications, requests for
                         reconsideration, and
                         petitions).
12....................  Change of address...........               2           4,200      389.00             140
13....................  Petition for reinstatement             2,400               4      389.00             160
                         after disciplinary removal
                         under 37 CFR 11.7(h).
14....................  Practitioner's supporting              2,400               1      389.00              40
                         documentation for a motion
                         to hold in abeyance a
                         disciplinary proceeding
                         because of a current
                         disability or addiction.
                                                     -----------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............  ............................  ..............          25,800  ..........          34,530
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 36784]]

    Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Respondent Cost Burden: 
$1,538,386.14. There are no capital start-up or maintenance costs 
associated with this information collection. There are, however, non-
hour costs due to recordkeeping requirements, filing fees, and postage 
costs.
    There are recordkeeping costs as a result of the Oath which 
includes a notary public requirement. The average fee for having a 
document notarized is $2. The USPTO estimates that it will receive 
2,195 responses to this information collection per year as a result of 
this notary requirement, for a total cost of $4,390 per year. Also, 
there is another recordkeeping cost being added into the collection. 
The General Requirements Bulletin recommends that ``applicants should 
make and keep a copy of every document submitted to the office in 
connection with an application for registration.'' The USPTO estimates 
that it will take an applicant approximately 5 (0.0833 hours) to print 
and retain a copy of the submissions and that approximately 4,700 
responses will be made per year, for a total of 391.6667 hours. Using 
the professional rate of $389 per hour for attorneys in private firms, 
the USPTO estimates that the record keeping cost associated with this 
copy requirement will be $152,358.34 per year, for a total 
recordkeeping cost of $156,748.34.
    There are also filing fees associated with this collection. The 
application fees for registration to practice before the USPTO vary 
depending on whether the applicant is a current applicant, a former 
examiner, or a foreign resident, or seeking reinstatement to the 
Register to become active upon leaving the USPTO. The fee for 
administration of the computerized examination to become a registered 
patent practitioner also varies depending on how the examination is 
administered. The total annual non-hour cost burden associated with 
filing fees is $1,377,636.60.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Total non-hour
                                             Item                 Responses (yr)  Filing fee ($)    cost burden
                                                                                                      ($/hr)
                             ...................................             (a)             (b)   (a) (b) x (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  ITEMS FOR WHICH FEES CURRENTLY ARE COLLECTED
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................  Non-Refundable Application Fee for            4,420           40.00      176,800.00
                              Registration to Practice Before
                              the United States Patent and
                              Trademark Office (includes both
                              the computerized exam and the
                              USPTO-administered exam). PTO-158.
1..........................  Application Fee for Registration to             100           40.00        4,000.00
                              Practice Before the United States
                              Patent and Trademark Office, as
                              applicable when used for
                              registration fees only (former
                              examiners; examination waived).
                              PTO-158.
2..........................  Application Fee for Registration to             100           40.00        4,000.00
                              Practice Before the United States
                              Patent and Trademark Office, as
                              applicable when used for
                              registration fees only (former
                              examiners; examination waived).
                              PTO-158A.
3..........................  Application Fee for Reciprocal                   25           40.00        1,000.00
                              Recognition to Practice in
                              Trademark Matters Before the
                              United States Patent and Trademark
                              Office Under 37 CFR 11.14(c) by a
                              Foreign Attorney/Agent
                              (examination waived). PTO-158T.
4..........................  Application for Registration in the              60            0.61           36.60
                              USPTO Law School Program for Law
                              Students to Practice Before the
                              United States Patent and Trademark
                              Office Under 37 CFR 11.14(c)
                              (examination waived; Law School
                              students only). PTO-158LS.
5..........................  Registration examination fee for                 20          450.00        9,000.00
                              administration of computerized
                              examination to become a registered
                              patent practitioner administered
                              by the USPTO (USPTO-administered
                              exam).
15.........................  Registration examination fee for              4,400          200.00      880,000.00
                              administration of computerized
                              examination to become a registered
                              patent practitioner administered
                              by a commercial entity (computer
                              exam).
6..........................  Undertaking under 37 CFR 11.10(b).              520            0.00            0.00
                              PTO-275.
17.........................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                1,995          100.00      199,500.00
                              Attorneys and Agents (individuals
                              passing the registration exam).
                              PTO-107A.
7..........................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                  100          100.00       10,000.00
                              Attorneys and Agents (foreign
                              applicants). PTO-107A.
7..........................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                  100          100.00       10,000.00
                              Attorneys and Agents (former
                              examiners seeking registration).
                              PTO-107A.
8..........................  Oath or Affirmation. PTO-1209......           2,195            0.00            0.00
9..........................  Reinstatement to the Register. PTO-              30          100.00        3,000.00
                              107A.
10.........................  Written request for reconsideration              30          130.00        3,900.00
                              and further review of disapproval
                              notice of application.
11.........................  Cover pages used for submitting               7,500            0.00            0.00
                              correspondence to OED (for
                              documents submitted with
                              applications, requests for
                              reconsideration, and petitions).
12.........................  Change of address..................           4,200            0.00            0.00
13.........................  Petition to the Director of the                  20          130.00        2,600.00
                              Office of Enrollment and
                              Discipline under 11.12(c).
13.........................  Petition for reinstatement after                  4        1,600.00        6,400.00
                              disciplinary removal under 37 CFR
                              11.7(h).
13.........................  Non-Refundable Application Fee for               35        1,600.00       56,000.00
                              Enrollment and/or Reinstatement to
                              Practice Before the United States
                              Patent and Trademark Office under
                              37 CFR 1.21(a)(10) (those who must
                              prove fitness to practice).
14.........................  Practitioner's supporting                         1       11,400.00       11,400.00
                              documentation for a motion to hold
                              in abeyance a disciplinary
                              proceeding because of a current
                              disability or addiction.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total..................  ...................................          25,855  ..............   $1,377,636.60
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page 36785]]

    The General Requirements Bulletin for Admission to the Examination 
for Registration to Practice in Patent Cases before the USPTO states 
that all business with the USPTO should be transacted in writing. The 
actions of the OED will be based exclusively on the written record in 
the USPTO (37 CFR 1.2). Personal attendance is unnecessary. All 
documents may be submitted to the USPTO by first-class mail through the 
United States Postal Service. Mailed submissions may include a 
certificate of mailing for each piece of correspondence enclosed, 
stating the date of deposit or transmission to the USPTO. The USPTO 
estimates that the average first-class postage cost for responses to 
this collection will vary from $0.49 cents for one ounce to $4.80 for 
one pound, depending on the individual submission. The total annual 
non-hour cost burden associated with postage costs is $4,001.20.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Postage Fee   Total non-hour
                                              Item                   Responses          ($)         cost burden
                                ................................             (a)             (b)   (a) x (b) (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              ITEMS FOR WHICH POSTAGE FEES CURRENTLY ARE COLLECTED
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................  Non-Refundable Application Fee             4,420           $0.61        2,696.20
                                 for Registration to Practice
                                 Before the United States Patent
                                 and Trademark Office (includes
                                 both the computerized exam and
                                 the USPTO-administered exam).
                                 PTO-158.
1.............................  Application Fee for Registration             100            0.61           61.00
                                 to Practice Before the United
                                 States Patent and Trademark
                                 Office, as applicable when used
                                 for registration fees only
                                 (former examiners; examination
                                 waived). PTO-158.
2.............................  Application Fee for Registration             100            0.49           49.00
                                 to Practice Before the United
                                 States Patent and Trademark
                                 Office, as applicable when used
                                 for registration fees only
                                 (former examiners; examination
                                 waived). PTO-158A.
3.............................  Application Fee for Reciprocal                25            0.61           15.25
                                 Recognition to Practice in
                                 Trademark Matters Before the
                                 United States Patent and
                                 Trademark Office Under 37 CFR
                                 11.14(c) by a Foreign Attorney/
                                 Agent (examination waived). PTO-
                                 158T.
4.............................  Application for Registration in               60            0.61           36.60
                                 the USPTO Law School Program
                                 for Law Students to Practice
                                 Before the United States Patent
                                 and Trademark Office Under 37
                                 CFR 11.14(c) (examination
                                 waived; Law School students
                                 only). PTO-158LS.
5.............................  Registration examination fee for              20            0.00            0.00
                                 administration of computerized
                                 examination to become a
                                 registered patent practitioner
                                 administered by the USPTO
                                 (USPTO-administered exam).
5.............................  Registration examination fee for           4,400            0.00            0.00
                                 administration of computerized
                                 examination to become a
                                 registered patent practitioner
                                 administered by a commercial
                                 entity (computer exam).
6.............................  Undertaking under 37 CFR                     520            0.00            0.00
                                 11.10(b). PTO-275.
7.............................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent             1,995            0.49          977.55
                                 Attorneys and Agents
                                 (individuals passing the
                                 registration exam). PTO-107A.
7.............................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent               100            0.49           49.00
                                 Attorneys and Agents (foreign
                                 applicants). PTO-107A.
7.............................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent               100            0.49           49.00
                                 Attorneys and Agents (former
                                 examiners seeking
                                 registration). PTO-107A.
8.............................  Oath or Affirmation. PTO-1209...           2,195            0.00            0.00
9.............................  Reinstatement to the Register.                30            0.49           14.70
                                 PTO-107A.
10............................  Written request for                           30            0.61           18.30
                                 reconsideration and further
                                 review of disapproval notice of
                                 application.
11............................  Cover pages used for submitting            7,500            0.00            0.00
                                 correspondence to OED (for
                                 documents submitted with
                                 applications, requests for
                                 reconsideration, and petitions).
12............................  Change of address...............           4,200            0.00            0.00
13............................  Petition to the Director of the               20            1.73           34.60
                                 Office of Enrollment and
                                 Discipline under 11.12(c).
13............................  Petition for reinstatement after               4            0.00            0.00
                                 disciplinary removal under 37
                                 CFR 11.7(h).
13............................  Non-Refundable Application Fee                35            0.00            0.00
                                 for Enrollment and/or
                                 Reinstatement to Practice
                                 Before the United States Patent
                                 and Trademark Office under 37
                                 CFR 1.21(a)(10) (those who must
                                 prove fitness to practice).
14............................  Practitioner's supporting                      1            0.00            0.00
                                 documentation for a motion to
                                 hold in abeyance a disciplinary
                                 proceeding because of a current
                                 disability or addiction.
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................................          25,855  ..............        4,001.20
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The USPTO estimates that the total (non-hour) respondent cost 
burden for this collection in the form of recordkeeping costs, filing 
fees, and postage costs is $1,538,386.14.

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

[[Page 36786]]

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: June 25, 2014.
Susan K. Fawcett,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014-15217 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P