[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26914-26915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11318]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-P-2015-0031]


Extension of the Period for Comments on Enhancing Patent Quality

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently 
launched a comprehensive and enhanced quality initiative. This 
initiative began with a request for public comments on a set of 
proposals for enhancing patent quality through submission of written 
comments. Public input on this initiative was also received through 
discussion at a two-day ``Quality Summit,'' held on March 25 and 26, 
2015, at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The USPTO is 
extending the comment period to ensure that all stakeholders have 
sufficient opportunity to submit comments on its new enhanced quality 
initiative.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, written comments must be 
received on or before May 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by electronic mail message 
over the Internet addressed to: [email protected]. 
Comments may also be submitted by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop 
Comments--Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22313-1450, marked to the attention of Michael Cygan, Senior 
Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the 
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy.
    Although comments may be submitted by postal mail, the USPTO 
prefers to receive comments by electronic mail message over the 
Internet in order to facilitate sharing the received comments with the 
public. Electronic comments are preferred to be submitted in plain 
text, but also may be submitted in ADOBE[supreg] portable document 
format or MICROSOFT[supreg] WORD format. Comments not submitted 
electronically should be submitted on paper in a format that 
facilitates convenient digital scanning into ADOBE[supreg] portable 
document format.
    The comments will be available for public inspection at the Office 
of the Commissioner for Patents, currently located in Madison East, 
Tenth Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia. Comments also 
will be available for viewing via the USPTO's Internet Web site (http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/enhanced-patent-quality-initiative.html). Because comments will be made available for public 
inspection, information that the submitter does not desire to make 
public, such as an address or phone number, should not be included in 
the comments. It would be helpful to the USPTO if written comments 
included information about: (1) The name and affiliation of the 
individual responding; and (2) an indication of whether comments 
offered represent views of the respondent's organization or are the 
respondent's personal views.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael T. Cygan, Senior Legal 
Advisor, at (571) 272-7700; Maria Nuzzolillo, Legal Advisor, at (571) 
272-8150; or Jeffrey R. West, Legal Advisor, at (571) 272-2226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO is extending the period for public 
comment on its Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative. The USPTO launched a 
comprehensive and enhanced quality initiative beginning with a request 
for public comments on a set of six proposals outlined in a Federal 
Register Notice, Request for Comments on Enhancing Patent Quality, 80 
FR 6475 (Feb. 5, 2015). The new enhanced quality initiative continued 
with a two-

[[Page 26915]]

day ``Quality Summit'' with the public to discuss the outlined 
proposals, which was held on March 25 and 26, 2015, at the USPTO 
headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
    In view of the substantial public interest in this initiative, the 
number and complexity of the issues involved, and requests from the 
public for an extension of the time to submit comments, the USPTO is 
now extending the period for submission of public comments until May 
20, 2015.
    Members of the public are invited to submit written comments that 
address the proposals outlined in the February 5, 2015, Federal 
Register Notice or that provide input on other programs or initiatives 
not reflected in the proposals that the public believes may enhance 
patent quality. Based upon the stakeholder feedback received, the USPTO 
plans to refine the proposals as needed and to continue its engagement 
with the public about these proposals through a series of additional 
events. Through such continued engagement with the public, the USPTO 
can take the correct next steps in its continued efforts toward 
enhancing patent quality.

    Dated: May 5, 2015.
Michelle K. Lee,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-11318 Filed 5-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P