[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48492-48496]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22617]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

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: 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 information collection proposed extension of an existing 
information collection.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 18, 
2017.

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.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Information Governance 
Division Director, Office of the Chief Technology Officer, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 
22313-1450.

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, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-4097; or by email to 
[email protected] with ``0651-0012 comment'' 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

    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.
    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

    Individuals desiring to participate in the Register of Patent 
Attorneys may submit material in electronic form or by mail following 
guidance provided by the Office of Enrollment and Discipline.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0012.
    IC Instruments and Forms: PTO-158, PTO-158A, PTO-158T, PTO-107A, 
PTO-107R, PTO-107S, PTO-275, PTO-1209, PTO-2126, PTO-2149 and PTO-2150.
    Type of Review: Extension of a Previously Existing Information 
Collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 18,458. Estimates for 
numbers of annual responses are based on the previously received number 
of responses and the anticipated participation trends over the next 
three years.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it takes the 
public approximately 1 minute (0.01 hours) to 40 hours to complete this 
information, depending upon the application (see Table 1 below). This 
includes the time to gather the necessary information, prepare the 
forms, and submit the items to the USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 18,559.39 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: 
$8,090,661.34. The USPTO expects that attorneys will complete the items 
in this collection. The professional hourly rate for attorneys is $438. 
The rate is established by estimates in the 2017 Report for the 
Economic Survey of the American Intellectual Property Law Association. 
Using this hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the total respondent 
cost burden for this collection is $8,090,661.34 per year.

                                                                Table 1--Respondent Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                             Estimated
             IC No.                                Item                        Hours      Responses (yr)   Burden (hrs/     Rate ($/hr)     respondent
                                                                                                                yr)                            cost
                                 (a)....................................             (b)     (c) = (a) x             (d)     (e) = (c) x
                                                                                                     (b)                             (d)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..............................  Application for Registration to                    0.50           2,611        1,305.50            $438     $571,809.00
                                  Practice Before the United States
                                  Patent and Trademark Office (includes
                                  both the computerized exam and the
                                  USPTO-administered exam) Form PTO-158.

[[Page 48493]]

 
1..............................  Application for Registration to                    0.50              19            9.50             438        4,161.00
                                  Practice Before the United States
                                  Patent and Trademark Office (former
                                  examiners; examination waived) Form
                                  PTO-158.
2..............................  Application for Registration to                    0.50              10            5.00             438        2,190.00
                                  Practice Before the United States
                                  Patent and Trademark Office Under 37
                                  CFR 11.6(c) by a Foreign Resident
                                  (examination waived) Form PTO-158A.
3..............................  Application for Reciprocal Recognition             0.50               3            1.50             438          657.00
                                  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) Form PTO-158T.
4..............................  Mandatory Survey--Register of Patent               0.50           5,000           2,500             438    1,095,000.00
                                  Attorneys and Agents PTO-107S.
5..............................  Registration Examination to Become a               7.00           1,982          13,874             438    6,076,812.00
                                  Registered Practitioner.
6..............................  Undertaking under 37 CFR 11.10(b) PTO/             0.33             159              53             438       23,214.00
                                  275.
7..............................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                     0.17             916          152.67             438       68,868.00
                                  Attorneys and Agents (individuals
                                  passing the registration exam) PTO-
                                  107A.
7..............................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                     0.17             100           16.67             438        7,300.00
                                  Attorneys and Agents (foreign
                                  applicants) PTO-107A.
7..............................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                     0.17             100           16.67             438        7,300.00
                                  Attorneys and Agents (former examiners
                                  seeking registration) PTO-107R.
8..............................  Oath or Affirmation PTO-1209...........            0.08           1,116              93             438       40,734.00
9a.............................  Reinstatement to the Register PTO-107A,            0.01              53            0.88             438          386.90
                                  PTO-107R.
9b.............................  Written request for reconsideration and            1.50              30              45             438       19,710.00
                                  further review of disapproval notice
                                  of application.
9c.............................  Petition to the Director of the Office             0.75              20              15             438        6,570.00
                                  of Enrollment and Discipline under
                                  11.2(c).
10.............................  Cover pages used for submitting                    0.05           6,300             315             438      137,970.00
                                  correspondence to OED (for documents
                                  submitted with applications, requests
                                  for reconsideration, and petitions).
11.............................  Reasonable Accommodation PTO 158R......             4.0              39             156             438       68,328.00
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals.....................  .......................................  ..............          18,458       18,559.39  ..............    8,090,661.34
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: Estimated 
Total Annual Non-hour Respondent Cost Burden: $1,546,909.00. 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.
    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 minutes (0.08 
hours) to print and retain a copy of the submissions and that 
approximately 5,176 responses will be made per year, for a total of 413 
hours. Using the professional rate of $438 per hour for intellectual 
property attorneys, the USPTO estimates that the record keeping cost 
associated with this copy requirement will be $181,752 per year.
    An additional cost comes from the requirement for an Oath statement 
for each member of the patent bar; an item which requires the services 
of a notary public. The average fee for having a document notarized is 
$6. The USPTO estimates that it will receive 1,116 responses to this 
information collection per year as a result of this notary requirement, 
for a total cost of $6,696.00 per year, for a total recordkeeping cost 
of $195,620.00.

[[Page 48494]]



                                                              Table 2--Recordkeeping Costs
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                             Estimated
             IC No.                                Item                        Hours      Responses (yr)   Burden (hrs/     Rate ($/hr)     respondent
                                                                                                                yr)                            cost
                                 .......................................             (a)             (b)     (c) = (a) x             (d)     (e) = (c) x
                                                                                                                     (b)                             (d)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..............................  Application for Registration to                    0.08           2,630          219.17         $438.00      $95,995.00
                                  Practice Before the United States
                                  Patent and Trademark Office (includes
                                  both the computerized exam and the
                                  USPTO-administered exam) Form PTO-158.
2..............................  Application for Registration to                    0.08              10            0.83          438.00          365.00
                                  Practice Before the United States
                                  Patent and Trademark Office Under 37
                                  CFR 11.6(c) by a Foreign Resident
                                  (examination waived) Form PTO-158A.
3..............................  Application for Reciprocal Recognition             0.08               3            0.25          438.00          109.50
                                  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) Form PTO-158T.
6..............................  Undertaking under 37 CFR 11.10(b) PTO/             0.08             159           13.25          438.00        5,803.50
                                  275.
7..............................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                     0.08           1,116           93.00          438.00       40,734.00
                                  Attorneys and Agents (individuals
                                  passing the registration exam) PTO-
                                  107A.
8..............................  Oath or Affirmation PTO-1209...........            0.08           1,116           93.00          438.00       40,734.00
8..............................  Oath or Affirmation Cost of Notary       ..............           1,116  ..............       6 Cost of        6,696.00
                                  Public.                                                                                  notary public
9a.............................  Reinstatement to the Register PTO-107A,            0.08              53            4.42          438.00        1,934.50
                                  PTO-107R.
9b.............................  Written request for reconsideration and            0.08              30            2.50          438.00        1,095.00
                                  further review of disapproval notice
                                  of application.
9c.............................  Petition to the Director of the Office             0.08              20            1.67          438.00          730.00
                                  of Enrollment and Discipline under
                                  11.2(c).
11.............................  Reasonable Accommodation PTO 158R......            0.08              39            3.25          438.00        1,423.50
                                                                         -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals.....................  .......................................  ..............           6,292          431.33  ..............      195,620.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 $776,920.00.

                                              Table 3--Filing Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                  Total non-hour
           IC No.                            Item                 Responses (yr)  Filing Fee ($)  cost burden ($/
                                                                                                        hr)
                                                                             (a)             (b)   (c)=(a) x (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................  Non-Refundable Application Fee for            2,611          $40.00     $104,400.00
                              Registration to Practice Before
                              the United States Patent and
                              Trademark Office (includes both
                              the computerized exam and the
                              USPTO-administered exam).
1..........................  Application Fee for Registration to              19           40.00          760.00
                              Practice Before the United States
                              Patent and Trademark Office, as
                              applicable when used for
                              registration fees only (former
                              examiners; examination waived).
2..........................  Application for Registration to                  10           40.00          400.00
                              Practice Before the United States
                              Patent and Trademark Office Under
                              37 CFR 11.6(c) by a Foreign
                              Resident (examination waived) Form
                              PTO-158A.
3..........................  Application Fee for Reciprocal                    3           40.00          120.00
                              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).
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).
5..........................  Registration examination fee for              2,382          200.00      476,400.00
                              administration of computerized
                              examination to become a registered
                              patent practitioner administered
                              by a commercial entity (computer
                              exam).

[[Page 48495]]

 
7..........................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                  916          100.00       91,600.00
                              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-107R.
9a.........................  Reinstatement to the Register PTO-               53          100.00        5,300.00
                              107A, PTO-107R.
9b.........................  Written request for reconsideration              30          130.00        3,900.00
                              and further review of disapproval
                              notice of application.
9c.........................  Petition to the Director of the                  20          130.00        2,600.00
                              Office of Enrollment and
                              Discipline under 11.2(c).
9d.........................  Petition for reinstatement after                  4        1,600.00        6,400.00
                              disciplinary removal under 37 CFR
                              11.60.
9f.........................  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).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Totals.................  ...................................           6,303              --      776,920.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Postage costs are also associated with this collection. Estimates 
for postage range from $0.49 to $1.73 per mailed submission, depending 
upon the item sent. The postage costs estimated at $2,260.53 for this 
collection and are outlined in the table below.

                                             Table 4--Postage Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Postage fee   Total non-hour
           IC No.                            Item                    Responses          ($)         cost burden
                             ...................................             (a)             (b)   (a) x (b) = c
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1..........................  Non-Refundable Application Fee for            2,611           $0.61       $1,592.71
                              Registration to Practice Before
                              the United States Patent and
                              Trademark Office (includes both
                              the computerized exam and the
                              USPTO-administered exam).
1..........................  Application Fee for Registration to              19            0.61           11.59
                              Practice Before the United States
                              Patent and Trademark Office, as
                              applicable when used for
                              registration fees only (former
                              examiners; examination waived).
2..........................  Application for Registration to                  10            0.49            4.90
                              Practice Before the United States
                              Patent and Trademark Office Under
                              37 CFR 11.6(c) by a Foreign
                              Resident (examination waived) Form
                              PTO-158A.
3..........................  Application Fee for Reciprocal                    3            0.61            1.83
                              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).
7..........................  Data Sheet--Register of Patent                  916            0.49          448.84
                              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.
9a.........................  Reinstatement to the Register PTO-               53            0.49           25.97
                              107A, PTO-107R.
9b.........................  Written request for reconsideration              30            0.61           18.30
                              and further review of disapproval
                              notice of application.
9c.........................  Petition to the Director of the                  20            1.73           34.60
                              Office of Enrollment and
                              Discipline under 11.2(c).
11.........................  Reasonable Accommodation PTO 158R..              39            0.61           23.79
rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
    Totals.................  ...................................           3,901  ..............        2,260.53
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) 
cost burden for this collection, in the form of filing fees and postage 
is $779,180.53 per year.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also 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

[[Page 48496]]

respondents, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

Marcie Lovett,
Records and Information Governance Division Director, OCTO United 
States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-22617 Filed 10-17-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P