[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.
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Totals............ ............................ .............. 25,800 .......... 34,530
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[[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 $1,377,636.60.
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Total non-hour
Item Responses (yr) Filing fee ($) 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.
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Total.................. ................................... 25,855 .............. $1,377,636.60
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[[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 $4,001.20.
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Postage Fee Total non-hour
Item Responses ($) 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.
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Total..................... ................................ 25,855 .............. 4,001.20
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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]
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