[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 54 (Friday, March 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14970-14972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-06446]


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

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Proposed Revision of a Currently Approved Information Collection; 
Comment Request; Post Registration (Trademark Processing)

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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

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 comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 19, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be submitted by any of the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0055 Post Registration (Trademark Processing)'' in the subject line of 
the message.
     Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records Management Division Director, 
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 Catherine Cain, Attorney Advisor, Office of the 
Commissioner for Trademarks, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 
P.O. Box 1451, Alexandria, VA 22313-1451, by telephone at 571-272-8946, 
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

    The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) administers 
the Trademark Act, 15 U.S.C. 1051 et seq., which provides for the 
Federal registration of trademarks, service marks, collective 
trademarks and service marks, collective membership marks, and 
certification marks. Individuals and businesses that use or intend to 
use such marks in commerce may file an application to register their 
marks with the USPTO.
    Such individuals and businesses may also submit various 
communications to the USPTO, including requests to amend their 
registrations to delete goods or services that are no longer being used 
by the registrant. Registered marks remain on the register for ten 
years and can be renewed, but will be cancelled unless the owner files 
with the USPTO a declaration attesting to the continued use (or 
excusable non-use) of the mark in commerce, and a renewal application, 
within specific deadlines. Applicants may also request to amend or 
divide a registration, respond to a post-registration Office action, 
and surrender a registration.
    The rules implementing the Act are set forth in 37 CFR part 2. 
These rules mandate that each register entry include the mark, the 
goods and/or services in connection with which the mark is used, 
ownership information, dates of use, and certain other information. The 
USPTO also provides similar

[[Page 14971]]

information concerning pending applications. The register and pending 
application information may be accessed by an individual or by 
businesses to determine the availability of a mark. By accessing the 
USPTO's information, parties may reduce the possibility of initiating 
use of a mark previously adopted by another. Thus, the Federal 
trademark registration process may reduce unnecessary litigation and 
its accompanying costs and burdens.

II. Method of Collection

    Electronically, if applicants submit the information using the 
forms available through the Trademark Electronic Application System 
(TEAS). By mail or hand delivery, if applicants choose to submit the 
information in paper form.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0055.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 185,047 responses per year. Of 
this total, the USPTO expects that 175,846 responses will be submitted 
through TEAS and 9,201 will be submitted on paper.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
approximately 5 minutes (0.08 hours) to 35 minutes (0.58 hours) to 
complete this information. This includes the time to gather the 
necessary information, create the documents, and submit the completed 
request to the USPTO.
    The time per response, estimated annual responses, and estimated 
annual hour burden associated with each instrument in this information 
collection is shown in the table below.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 43,095.72 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost Burden (Hourly): $16,764,233.78. The 
USPTO expects that attorneys will complete the instruments associated 
with this information collection. The professional hourly rate for 
attorneys in private firms is $389. Using this hourly rate, the USPTO 
estimates $16,764,233.78 per year for the total hourly costs associated 
with respondents.

 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Estimated    Estimated
                IC No.                                   Item                    time for      annual     Estimated annual  Rate  ($/      Total cost
                                                                                 response    responses      burden hours       hr)
                                                                                       (a)          (b)    (a) x (b) = (c)        (d)    (c) x (d) = (e)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.....................................  Declaration of Use of Mark in                   12       16,456           3,291.20    $389.00      $1,280,276.80
                                         Commerce Under Section 8 (TEAS).
1.....................................  Declaration of Use of Mark in                   20          336             112.00     389.00          43,568.00
                                         Commerce Under Section 8 (paper).
2.....................................  Combined Declaration of Use of Mark             13       75,902          16,445.43     389.00       6,397,273.57
                                         in Commerce and Application for
                                         Renewal of Registration of a Mark
                                         Under Section 8 & 9 (TEAS).
2.....................................  Combined Declaration of Use of Mark             20        1,549             516.33     389.00         200,853.67
                                         in Commerce and Application for
                                         Renewal of Registration of a Mark
                                         Under Section 8 & 9 (paper).
3.....................................  Declaration of Incontestability of a             5          823              68.58     389.00          26,678.92
                                         Mark Under Section 15 (TEAS).
3.....................................  Declaration of Incontestability of a            10           17               2.83     389.00           1,102.17
                                         Mark Under Section 15 (paper).
4.....................................  Combined Declaration of Use and                 12       65,825          13,165.00     389.00       5,121,185.00
                                         Incontestability Under Section 8 and
                                         15 (TEAS).
4.....................................  Combined Declaration of Use and                 20        1,343             447.67     389.00         174,142.33
                                         Incontestability Under Section 8 and
                                         15 (paper).
5.....................................  Surrender of registration for                    5          347              28.92     389.00          11,248.58
                                         cancellation (TEAS Global).
5.....................................  Surrender of registration for                   15          847             211.75     389.00          82,370.75
                                         cancellation (paper).
6.....................................  Section 7 Request (TEAS).............           20        4,807           1,602.33     389.00         623,307.67
6.....................................  Section 7 Request (paper)............           30        5,003           2,501.50     389.00         973,083.50
7.....................................  Response to Office Action for Post-             25        9,000           3,750.00     389.00       1,458,750.00
                                         Registration Matters (TEAS Global).
7.....................................  Response to Office Action for Post-             35           50              29.17     389.00          11,345.83
                                         Registration Matters (paper).
8.....................................  Request to Divide Registration (TEAS            20        2,685             895.00     389.00         348,155.00
                                         Global).
8.....................................  Request to Divide Registration                  30           55              27.50     389.00          10,697.50
                                         (paper).
9.....................................  Section 12(c) Affidavit (TEAS Global)           10            1               0.17     389.00              64.83
9.....................................  Section 12(c) Affidavit (paper)......           20            1               0.33     389.00             129.67
                                                                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals............................  .....................................  ...........      185,047          43,095.72  .........      16,764,233.78
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Cost Burden (Non-Hourly): $54,392,518.33. 
This collection has no capital startup, maintenance, or operating fees. 
This collection does have postage costs and filing fees.

[[Page 14972]]

Postage Costs

    Applicants incur postage costs when submitting non-electronic 
information to the USPTO by mail through the United States Postal 
Service. The USPTO estimates that the vast majority--approximately 
98%--of the paper forms are submitted to the USPTO via first-class 
mail, while the rest are submitted by hand delivery. Out of 9,201 paper 
forms, the USPTO estimates that 9,017 forms will be mailed, at a rate 
of 49 cents per ounce. Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the postage 
costs for the paper submissions in this collection will be $4,418.33.

Filing Fees

    Filing fees are charged per class of goods or services; therefore, 
the total filing fees can vary depending on the number of classes. The 
total filing fees of $54,388,100 shown here are based on the minimum 
fee of one class per application.

 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        Responses
              IC No.                               Item                    (yr)     Filing fees  Total cost (yr)
                                                                               (a)          (b)          (a x b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.................................  Declaration of Use of Mark in           16,456      $100.00    $1,645,600.00
                                     Commerce Under Section 8 (TEAS).
1.................................  Declaration of Use of Mark in              336       100.00        33,600.00
                                     Commerce Under Section 8 (Paper).
2.................................  Combined Declaration of Use of          75,902       400.00    30,360,800.00
                                     Mark in Commerce and Application
                                     for Renewal of Registration of a
                                     Mark Under Section 8 & 9 (TEAS).
2.................................  Combined Declaration of Use of           1,549       500.00       774,500.00
                                     Mark in Commerce and Application
                                     for Renewal of Registration of a
                                     Mark Under Section 8 & 9 (Paper).
3.................................  Declaration of Incontestability            823       200.00       164,600.00
                                     of a Mark Under Section 15
                                     (TEAS).
3.................................  Declaration of Incontestability             17       200.00         3,400.00
                                     of a Mark Under Section 15
                                     (paper).
4.................................  Combined Declaration of Use and         65,825       300.00    19,747,500.00
                                     Incontestability Under Section 8
                                     and 15 (TEAS).
4.................................  Combined Declaration of Use and          1,343       300.00       402,900.00
                                     Incontestability Under Section 8
                                     and 15 (Paper).
6.................................  Section 7 Request (TEAS).........        4,807       100.00       480,700.00
6.................................  Section 7 Request (Paper)........        5,003       100.00       500,300.00
8.................................  Request to Divide Registration           2,685       100.00       268,500.00
                                     (TEAS Global).
8.................................  Request to Divide Registration              55       100.00         5,500.00
                                     (Paper).
9.................................  Section 12(c) Affidavit (TEAS                1       100.00           100.00
                                     Global).
9.................................  Section 12(c) Affidavit (Paper)..            1       100.00           100.00
                                                                      ------------------------------------------
    Totals........................  .................................      174,801  ...........    54,388,100.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) 
cost burden for this collection, in the form of postage costs 
($4,418.33) and filing fees ($54,388,100), is $54,392,518.33 per year.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
(including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) 
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of 
information on respondents, including through the use of automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they will also become a matter of public record.

    Dated: March 13, 2015.
Marcie Lovett,
Records Management Division Director, USPTO, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-06446 Filed 3-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P