[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10897-10903]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03124]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Patent and Trademark Office


Initial Patent Applications

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a 
proposed extension of an information collection: Initial Patent 
Applications.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 17, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0032 comment'' 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 the attention of Raul Tamayo, Senior Legal 
Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, United States Patent 
and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by 
telephone at 571-272-7728; or by email at [email protected]. 
Additional information about this collection is also available at 
http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The USPTO is required by Title 35 of the United States Code, 
including 35 U.S.C. 131, to examine applications for patents. The USPTO 
administers the patent statutes through various rules in Chapter 37 of 
the Code of Federal Regulations, including 37 CFR 1.16 through 1.84. 
Each patent applicant must provide sufficient information to allow the 
USPTO to properly examine the application to determine whether it meets 
the criteria set forth in the patent statues and regulations for 
issuance as a

[[Page 10898]]

patent. For example, the patent statutes and regulations require that 
an application for patent include the following information:

(1) a specification containing a description of the invention and at 
least one claim defining the property right sought by the applicant;
(2) a drawing(s) or photograph(s), where necessary, for an 
understanding of the invention;
(3) an oath or declaration signed by the applicant; and
(4) a filing fee.

    The following types of patent applications are covered under the 
present information collection:
 New original utility, plant, design, and provisional 
applications,
 Continuation/divisional applications of international 
applications,
 Continued prosecution applications (design), and
 Continuations/divisionals and continuation-in-part 
applications of utility, plant, and design applications.

    In addition, the present collection covers petitions to accept an 
unintentionally delayed priority or benefit claim, petitions under 37 
CFR 1.47 (pre-Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)) to accept a filing 
by other than all of the inventors or a person not the inventor, 
petitions under 37 CFR 1.6(g) to accord an application under 37 CFR 
1.495(b) a receipt date, and papers filed under 37 CFR 1.41(c), 
1.41(a)(2) (pre-AIA), 1.48(d), 1.53(c)(2), and 1.53(c)(2) (pre-Patent 
Law Treaty (PLT) (AIA)) (the particular items covered under this 
collection are identified in more detail at Table 1 below).
    Most applications for patent, including new utility, design, and 
provisional applications, can be submitted to the USPTO through EFS-
Web. EFS-Web is the USPTO's system for electronically filing of patent 
correspondence and is accessible via the Internet on the USPTO Web 
site. The Legal Framework for EFS-Web, available at http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/file/efs/guidance/Newlegalframework.jsp, 
provides a listing of patent applications and documents permitted to be 
filed via EFS-Web and patent applications and documents not permitted 
to be filed via EFS-Web.
    There are 69 forms in this collection. This total incudes versions 
of the inventor's oath and declaration forms that were created to 
comply with the changes resulting from the AIA, e.g., forms AIA/01, 
AIA/02, etc., as well as pre-AIA versions of the oath and declaration 
forms, e.g., forms SB/01, SB/02, etc., and foreign language 
translations of the oath and declaration forms, e.g., forms AIA/01CN, 
SB/02CN, etc. Items in this collection that do not have forms 
associated with them include the petitions and the papers filed under 
37 CFR 1.41(c), 1.41(a)(2) (pre-AIA), 1.48(d), 1.53(c)(2), and 
1.53(c)(2) (pre-PLT (AIA)).

II. Method of Collection

    By mail, hand delivery, or facsimile (except that, in accordance 
with 37 CFR 1.6(d), the items covered under this collection that may be 
submitted by facsimile are limited to the petitions and the papers 
filed under 37 CFR 1.41(c), 1.41(a)(2) (pre-AIA), 1.48(d), 1.53(c)(2), 
and 1.53(c)(2) (pre-PLT (AIA))). Most of these items can also be 
submitted through EFS-Web.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0032.
    Form Number(s): PTO/SB/01, 01A, 02, 02A, 02B, 02CN, 02DE, 02ES, 
02FR, 02IT, 02JP, 02KR, 02LR, 02NL, 02RU, 02SE, 03, 03A, 04, 06, 07, 14 
EFS-Web, 16, 16 EFS-Web, 17, 29, 29A, and 101-110. This collection also 
includes the following AIA forms: PTO/AIA01 through AIA04, AIA08 
through AIA11, AIA14 and 15, AIA18 and 19, and AIA01CN and 01DE, 01ES, 
01FR, 01IT, 01JP, 01KR, 01NL, 01RU, 01SE, 02CN, 02DE, 02ES, 02FR, 02IT, 
02JP, 02KR, 02NL, 02RU, and 02SE.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other for 
profits; not-for-profits institutions; and the Federal Government.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 470,403 responses per year. The 
USPTO estimates that approximately 130,313 of these responses will be 
from small entities. This estimate reflects a 25% small entity 
responses rate for all items in the collection, except for design-
related items in the collection, for which a 50% small entity response 
rate is estimated. The USPTO also estimates that 406,995 of the 
responses will be filed electronically.
    Estimated Time Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it takes the 
public approximately 30 minutes to 40 hours (0.50 to 40 hours) to 
complete this information, depending on the complexity of the request. 
This includes the time to gather the necessary information, prepare the 
application, petition, or paper submission, and submit the completed 
request to the USPTO. The USPTO calculates that, on balance, it takes 
the same amount of time to complete these steps and submit items to the 
USPTO, whether the applicant submits in paper form or electronically.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 12,776,282 hours 
per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Cost Burden: $5,238,275,620 per 
year. The USPTO expects that all of the information in this collection 
will be prepared by an attorney. Using the professional hourly rate of 
$410 for attorneys in private firms, the USPTO estimates that the total 
respondent cost for this collection is $5,238,275,620 per year.

                                                              Table 1--Total Hourly Burden
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Estimated                 Estimated
                                                                                     time for    Estimated      annual                  Estimated annual
                     IC #                                      Item                  response      annual       burden    Rate ($/hr)        burden
                                                                                     (hours)     responses      hours
                                                                                           (a)          (b)  (a) x (b) =          (d)    (c) x (d) = (e)
                                                                                                                     (c)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.............................................  Original New Utility                        40          300       12,000         $410      $4,920,000.00
                                                 Applications--No Application
                                                 Data Sheet.
1.............................................  Electronic Original New Utility             40       13,700      548,000          410     224,680,000.00
                                                 Applications--No Application
                                                 Data Sheets.
2.............................................  Original New Plant Applications--            9          300        2,700          410       1,107,000.00
                                                 No Application Data Sheet.
3.............................................  Original New Design Applications--           7          100          700          410         287,000.00
                                                 No Application Data Sheet.

[[Page 10899]]

 
3.............................................  Electronic Original Design                   7        3,200       22,400          410       9,184,000.00
                                                 Applications--No Application
                                                 Data Sheet.
4.............................................  Original New Utility                        40        5,400      216,000          410      88,560,000.00
                                                 Applications--Application Data
                                                 Sheet.
4.............................................  Electronic Original New Utility             40      265,600   10,624,000          410   4,355,840,000.00
                                                 Applications--Application Data
                                                 Sheet.
5.............................................  Original New Plant Applications--            9        1,100        9,900          410       4,059,000.00
                                                 Application Data Sheet.
6.............................................  Original New Design Applications--           7          900        6,300          410       2,583,000.00
                                                 Application Data Sheet.
6.............................................  Electronic New Design                        7       42,800      299,600          410     122,836,000.00
                                                 Applications--Application Data
                                                 Sheet.
7.............................................  Continuation/Divisional of an                4          200          800          410         328,000.00
                                                 International Application.
7.............................................  Electronic Continuation/                     4       10,800       43,200          410      17,712,000.00
                                                 Divisional of an International
                                                 Application.
8.............................................  Utility Continuation/Divisional              4        1,500        6,000          410       2,460,000.00
                                                 Applications.
8.............................................  Electronic Utility Continuation/             4       73,500      294,000          410     120,540,000.00
                                                 Divisional Applications.
9.............................................  Plant Continuation/Divisional                3          200          600          410         246,000.00
                                                 Application.
10............................................  Design Continuation/Divisional               1          100          100          410          41,000.00
                                                 Application.
10............................................  Electronic Design Continuation/              1        2,900        2,900          410       1,189,000.00
                                                 Divisional Applications.
11............................................  Continued Prosecution                        1           20           20          410           8,200.00
                                                 Applications--Design (Request
                                                 Transmittal and Receipt).
11............................................  Electronic Continued Prosecution             1          880          880          410         360,800.00
                                                 Applications--Design (Request
                                                 Transmittal and Receipt).
12............................................  Utility Continuation-in-Part                20          300        6,000          410       2,460,000.00
                                                 Applications.
12............................................  Electronic Utility Continuation-            20       13,300      266,000          410     109,060,000.00
                                                 in-Part Applications.
13............................................  Plant Continuation-in-Part                   5            1            5          410           2,050.00
                                                 Applications.
14............................................  Design Continuation-in-Part                  3           20           60          410          24,600.00
                                                 Applications.
14............................................  Electronic Design Continuation-in-           3          830        2,490          410       1,020,900.00
                                                 Part Applications.
15............................................  Provisional Application for                 18        4,000       72,000          410      29,520,000.00
                                                 Patent Cover Sheet.
15............................................  Electronic Provisional                      18      184,000      331,200          410     135,792,000.00
                                                 Application for Patent Cover
                                                 Sheet.
16............................................  Petition to Accept                           1          100          100          410          41,000.00
                                                 Unintentionally Delay Priority/
                                                 Benefit Claim.
16............................................  Electronic Petition to Accept                1        3,400        3,400          410       1,394,000.00
                                                 Unintentionally Delayed Priority/
                                                 Benefit Claim.
17............................................  Petition Under 37 CFR 1.47 (pre-             1            1            1          410               4410
                                                 AIA) to Accept a Filing by Other
                                                 Than all the Inventors or a
                                                 Person not the Inventor.
17............................................  Electronic Petition Under 37 CFR             1           50           50          410          20,500.00
                                                 1.47 (pre-AIA) to Accept a
                                                 Filing by Other Than all the
                                                 Inventors or a Person not the
                                                 Inventor.
18............................................  Petition under 37 CFR 1.6(g) to           0.50            1            1          410             410.00
                                                 According the Application under
                                                 37 CFR 1.495(b) a Receipt Date.
19............................................  Papers filed under the following:         0.75          200          150         $410         $61,500.00
                                                1.41(c) or 1.41(a)(2) (pre-AIA)--
                                                 to supply the name or names of
                                                 the inventor or inventors after
                                                 the filing date without a cover
                                                 sheet as prescribed by 37 CFR
                                                 1.51 (c)(1) in a provisional
                                                 application..
                                                1.48(d)--for correction of
                                                 inventorship in a provisional
                                                 application..
                                                1.53 (c)(2) or 1.53(c)(2) (pre-
                                                 PLT (AIA))--to convert a
                                                 nonprovisional application filed
                                                 under 1.53(b) to a provisional
                                                 application filed under 1.53(c).

[[Page 10900]]

 
19............................................  Electronic Papers filed under the         0.75        6,300        4.725         $410      $1,937,250.00
                                                 following:.
                                                1.41(c) or 1.41(a)(2) (pre-AIA)--
                                                 to supply the name or names of
                                                 the inventor or inventors after
                                                 the filing date without a cover
                                                 sheet as prescribed by 37 CFR
                                                 1.51 (c)(1) in a provisional
                                                 application..
                                                1.48(d)--for correction of
                                                 inventorship in a provisional
                                                 application..
                                                1.53 (c)(2) or 1.53(c)(2) (pre-
                                                 PLT (AIA))--to convert a
                                                 nonprovisional application filed
                                                 under 1.53(b) to a provisional
                                                 application filed under 1.53(c).
                                                                                  ----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................................  .................................  ...........      470,403   12,776,282  ...........  $5,238,275,620.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual Non-hour Respondent Cost Burden: 
$1,195,268,438.53.
    There is no maintenance, operation, capital start-up, or 
recordkeeping costs associated with this information collection. 
However, this collection does have annual (non-hour) costs in the form 
of postage and drawing costs, as well as filing fees.
    Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this collection be 
submitted electronically, the items may be submitted by mail through 
the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPTO estimates that the 
average cost for sending a patent application by Priority Mail 
Express[supreg] will be $19.99 and that up to 14,441 may be mailed to 
the USPTO, resulting in $288,675.59 in the postage costs.
    The USPTO estimates that the petitions and other papers covered 
under this collection, if submitted by mail, will be sent by first-
class mail; a postage rate of $0.94. The USPTO estimates that up to 301 
submissions may be mailed per year, thus resulting in $282.94 in first-
class mailing costs.
    Patent applicants can submit drawings with the applications covered 
under this collection. As a basis for estimating the drawing costs, the 
USPTO expects that all applicants will have their drawings prepared by 
patent illustration firms. Estimates for the drawings can vary greatly, 
depending on the number of figures that need to be produced, the total 
number of pages for the drawings, and the complexity of the drawings. 
Because there are many variables involved, the USPTO is using the 
average of the cost ranges found for the application drawings to derive 
the estimated cost per sheet that is then used to calculate the total 
drawing costs.
    The utility, plant, and design continuation and divisional 
applications use the same drawings as the initial filings, so they are 
not included in these totals. The continuation-in-part applications may 
use some of the same drawings as the initial applications and some new 
drawings may be submitted, so those numbers are included in these 
estimates. The drawings for the continued prosecution applications also 
are included in the drawing cost totals.
    The USPTO estimates that total drawing costs is $608,610,280. The 
break-down of costs for utility, design, plant, and provisional 
drawings is broken down in table 2 below.

                                                          Table 2--Drawing Cost to Respondents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                  Estimated  annual      Drawing  cost  amounts  Drawing  totals (c) (a)
                    IC #                                    Item                     response (a)               ($) (b)                   x (b)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Utility Application Drawings...                  298,800                $1,150.00          $343,620,000.00
                                              Design Application Drawings....                   47,120                 1,930.00            90,941,600.00
                                              Plant Application Drawings                         1,601                   680.00             1,088,680.00
                                               (Photographs).
                                              Provisional Application                          150,400                 1,150.00           172,960,000.00
                                               Drawings.
                                              Total Drawing Costs............                  497,921                                    608,610,280.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    In this collection, there is also an annual (non-hour) cost burden 
in the way of filing fees. Many of the fees had previously been housed 
within information collection 0651-0072 (America Invents Act Section 10 
Patent Fee Adjustments), but these fees have been returned to this 
collection. The total estimated filing costs for this collection is 
$586,369,200 and is detailed in table 3 below.

[[Page 10901]]



                                                         Table 3--Total Non-Hour Respondent Cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                   Estimated annual
                    IC #                                    Item                     response (a)              Amount (b)          Totals (c) (a) x (b)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1, 4........................................  Basic Filing fee--Utility                        235,200                  $280.00           $65,856,000.00
                                               (Paper Filing--Also Requires
                                               Non-Electronic Filing Fee
                                               Under 1.16(t)) (large entity).
1, 4........................................  Basic Filing fee--Utility                         80,500                   140.00            11,270,000.00
                                               (Paper Filing--Also Requires
                                               Non-Electronic Filing Fee
                                               Under 1.16(t)) (small entity).
1, 4........................................  Basic Filing fee--Utility                         17,000                    70.00             1,190,000.00
                                               (Paper Filing--Also Requires
                                               Non-Electronic Filing Fee
                                               Under 1.16(t)) (micro entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Application Size Fee--                    13,500                   400.00             5,400,000.00
                                               for Each Additional 50 Sheets
                                               That Exceeds 100 Sheets (large
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Application Size Fee--                     6,500                   200.00             1,300,000.00
                                               for Each Additional 50 Sheets
                                               That Exceeds 100 Sheets (small
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Application Size Fee--                       160                   100.00                16,000.00
                                               for Each Additional 50 Sheets
                                               That Exceeds 100 Sheets (micro
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Search Fee (large                        233,900                   600.00           140,340,000.00
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Search Fee (small                         79,600                   300.00            23,880,000.00
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Search Fee (micro                         16,700                   150.00             2,505,000.00
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Examination Fee (large                   234,900                   720.00           169,128,000.00
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Examination Fee (small                    80,000                   360.00            28,800,000.00
                                               entity).
1, 4........................................  Utility Examination Fee (micro                    16,800                   180.00             3,024,000.00
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Plant (large                       570                   180.00               102,600.00
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Plant (small                       580                    90.00                52,200.00
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Plant (micro                        10                    45.00                   450.00
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Plant Application Size Fee--for                        0                   400.00                     0.00
                                               Each Additional 50 Sheets That
                                               Exceeds 100 Sheets (large
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Plant Application Size Fee--for                        0                   200.00                     0.00
                                               Each Additional 50 Sheets That
                                               Exceeds 100 Sheets (small
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Plant Application Size Fee--for                        0                   100.00                     0.00
                                               Each Additional 50 Sheets That
                                               Exceeds 100 Sheets (micro
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Plant Search Fee (large entity)                      570                   380.00               216,600.00
2, 5........................................  Plant Search Fee (small entity)                      575                   190.00               109,250.00
2, 5........................................  Plant Search Fee (micro entity)                       10                    95.00                   950.00
2, 5........................................  Plant Examination Fee (large                         560                   580.00               324,800.00
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Plant Examination Fee (small                         570                   290.00               165,300.00
                                               entity).
2, 5........................................  Plant Examination Fee (micro                          10                   145.00                 1,450.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Design (large                   20,100                   180.00             3,618,000.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Design (small                   17,900                    90.00             1,611,000.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Design (micro                    4,700                    45.00               211,500.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Design (CPA)                       550                   180.00                99,000.00
                                               (large entity).
3, 6........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Design (CPA)                       340                    90.00                30,600.00
                                               (small entity).
3, 6........................................  Basic Filing Fee--Design (CPA)                        30                    45.00                 1,350.00
                                               (micro entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Application Size Fee--                        115                   400.00                46,000.00
                                               for Each Additional 50 Sheets
                                               That Exceeds 100 Sheets (large
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Application Size Fee--                         60                   200.00                12,000.00
                                               for Each Additional 50 Sheets
                                               That Exceeds 100 Sheets (small
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Application Size Fee--                          1                   100.00                   100.00
                                               for Each Additional 50 Sheets
                                               That Exceeds 100 Sheets (micro
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Search Fee (large                          20,400                   120.00             2,448,000.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Search Fee (small                          18,000                    60.00             1,080,000.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Search Fee (micro                           4,600                    30.00               138,000.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Examination Fee (large                     20,200                   460.00             9,292,000.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Examination Fee (small                     17,800                   230.00             4,094,000.00
                                               entity).
3, 6........................................  Design Examination Fee (micro                      4,600                   115.00               529,000.00
                                               entity).
15..........................................  Provisional Application Size                       4,300                   400.00             1,720,000.00
                                               Fee--for Each Additional 50
                                               Sheets That Exceeds 100 Sheets
                                               (large entity).

[[Page 10902]]

 
15..........................................  Provisional Application Size                       4,600                   200.00               920,000.00
                                               Fee--for Each Additional 50
                                               Sheets That Exceeds 100 Sheets
                                               (small entity).
15..........................................  Provisional Application Size                         135                   100.00                13,500.00
                                               Fee--for Each Additional 50
                                               Sheets That Exceeds 100 Sheets
                                               (micro entity).
15..........................................  Provisional Application Filing                    56,100                   260.00            14,586,000.00
                                               Fee (large entity).
15..........................................  Provisional Application Filing                    68,800                   130.00             8,944,000.00
                                               Fee (small entity).
15..........................................  Provisional Application Filing                    30,000                    65.00             1,950,000.00
                                               Fee (micro entity).
16..........................................  Surcharge--Late Filing Fee,                       86,400                   140.00            12,096,000.00
                                               Search Fee, Examination Fee,
                                               Inventor's Oath or
                                               Declaration, or Application
                                               Filed Without at least One
                                               Claim or by Reference (large
                                               entity).
16..........................................  Surcharge--Late Filing Fee,                       38,200                    70.00             2,674,000.00
                                               Search Fee, Examination Fee,
                                               Inventor's Oath or
                                               Declaration, or Application
                                               Filed Without at least One
                                               Claim or by Reference (small
                                               entity).
16..........................................  Surcharge--Late Filing Fee,                        4,500                    35.00               157,500.00
                                               Search Fee, Examination Fee,
                                               Inventor's Oath or
                                               Declaration, or Application
                                               Filed Without at least One
                                               Claim or by Reference (micro
                                               entity).
16..........................................  Surcharge--Late Provisional                        1,800                    60.00               108,000.00
                                               Filing Fee or Cover Sheet
                                               (large entity).
16..........................................  Surcharge--Late Provisional                        2,700                    30.00                81,000.00
                                               Filing Fee or Cover Sheet
                                               (small entity).
16..........................................  Surcharge--Late Provisional                        3,000                    15.00                45,000.00
                                               Filing Fee or Cover Sheet
                                               (micro entity).
17..........................................  Petition Under 37 CFR 1.47 (pre-                       1                   200.00                   200.00
                                               AIA) to Accept a Filing by
                                               Other Than all the Inventors
                                               or a Person not the Inventor
                                               (large entity).
17..........................................  Petition Under 37 CFR 1.47 (pre-                       1                   100.00                   100.00
                                               AIA) to Accept a Filing by
                                               Other Than all the Inventors
                                               or a Person not the Inventor
                                               (small entity).
17..........................................  Petition Under 37 CFR 1.47 (pre-                       1                    50.00                    50.00
                                               AIA) to Accept a Filing by
                                               Other Than all the Inventors
                                               or a Person not the Inventor
                                               (micro entity).
17..........................................  Electronic Petition Under 37                          38                   200.00                 7,600.00
                                               CFR 1.47 (pre-AIA) to Accept a
                                               Filing by Other Than the
                                               Inventors or a Person not the
                                               Inventor (large entity).
17..........................................  Electronic Petition Under 37                           9                   100.00                   900.00
                                               CFR 1.47 (pre-AIA) to Accept a
                                               Filing by Other Than the
                                               Inventors or a Person not the
                                               Inventor (small entity).
17..........................................  Electronic Petition Under 37                           3                    50.00                   150.00
                                               CFR 1.47 (pre-AIA) to Accept a
                                               Filing by Other Than the
                                               Inventors or a Person not the
                                               Inventor (micro entity).
18..........................................  Petition under 37 CFR 1.6(g) to                        1                     0.00                     0.00
                                               accord the Application under
                                               37 CFR 1.495(b) a Receipt Date.
                                              Each Independent Claim in                         55,100                   420.00            23,142,000.00
                                               Excess of Three (large entity).
                                              Each Independent Claim in                         20,500                   210.00             4,305,000.00
                                               Excess of Three (small entity).
                                              Each Independent Claim in                          1,900                   105.00               199,500.00
                                               Excess of Three (micro entity).
                                              Each Claim in Excess of 20                       362,900                    80.00            29,032,000.00
                                               (large entity).
                                              Each Claim in Excess of 20                       199,400                    40.00             7,976,000.00
                                               (small entity).

[[Page 10903]]

 
                                              Each Claim in Excess of 20                        12,600                    20.00               252,000.00
                                               (micro entity).
                                              Multiple Dependent Claim (large                    1,200                   780.00               936,000.00
                                               entity).
                                              Multiple Dependent Claim (small                      800                   390.00               312,000.00
                                               entity).
                                              Multiple Dependent Claim (micro                       90                   195.00                17,550.00
                                               entity).
                                                                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Filing Fee........................  ...............................                2,102,690  .......................           586,369,200.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) respondent 
cost burden for this collection in the form of postage costs, drawing 
costs, and filing fees is estimated to be approximately 
$1,164,394,638.53 per year.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the USPTO's request for OMB approval. All comments 
will become a matter of public record.
    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;
(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, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

    Dated: February 9, 2017.
Rhonda Foltz,
Office of Information Management Services Director, OCIO, United States 
Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-03124 Filed 2-15-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P