[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 82 (Friday, April 27, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18537-18539]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08738]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Post Registration (Trademark Processing)

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 existing information collection: 0651-0055 
(Post Registration (Trademark Processing)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before June 26, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0055 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 Catherine Cain, Attorney Advisor, Office of the 
Commissioner for Trademarks, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, by telephone at 571-272-8946, 
or by email to [email protected] with ``0651-0055 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

    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.
    The information gathered in this collection covers various 
communications submitted by individuals and businesses to the USPTO 
occurring after registration of a trademark. One type of communication

[[Page 18538]]

is a request to amend their registrations to delete goods or services 
that are no longer being used by the registrant. A second type of 
communication is a declaration of use. 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. Registration owners may also 
request to amend or divide a registration, respond to a post-
registration Office action, and surrender a registration.
    The information in this collection is used to maintain the quality 
of the trademark register. The register information may be accessed by 
an individual or by businesses to determine the availability of a mark. 
A current and accurate register reduces the possibility that parties 
initiate the use of a mark previously adopted by another. It is in the 
interest of all parties to update and correct the registry as their 
need for and use of marks evolve. Thus, the Federal trademark 
registration process may reduce unnecessary litigation and its 
associated costs and burdens.

II. Methods of Collection

    Electronically, if applicants submit the information using the 
forms provided 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.
    IC Instruments: PTO Form 1563, PTO Form 1573, PTO Form 1583, PTO 
Form 1597, PTO Form 1963, TEAS Global Form.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; business of other for-
profit organizations; not-for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 204,362 responses per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
approximately between 5 minutes (0.08 hours) and 40 minutes (0.67 
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.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hour Burden: 55,665.70 hours per 
year.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: 
$24,381,576.60. The USPTO expects that attorneys will complete the 
instruments associated with this information collection. The 
professional hourly rate for intellectual property attorneys in private 
firms is $438. Using this hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the 
total respondent cost burden for this collection is $24,381,576.60 per 
year.

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                                                                 Estimated response       Estimated       Estimated                      Estimated cost
               IC No.                           Item                    time              responses        burden           Rate             burden
                                      .......................  (a)...................             (b)             (c)             (d)                (e)
                                      .......................  ......................  ..............       (a) x (b)  ..............          (c) x (d)
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1...................................  Declaration of Use of    0.25 (15 minutes).....          19,466        4,866.50         $438.00      $2,131.527.00
                                       Mark in Commerce Under
                                       Section 8 (TEAS).
1...................................  Declaration of Use of    0.42 (25 minutes).....               1            0.42          438.00             183.96
                                       Mark in Commerce Under
                                       Section 8 (paper).
2...................................  Combined Declaration of  0.25 (15 minutes).....          82,337       20,584.25          438.00       9,015,901.50
                                       Use of Mark in
                                       Commerce and
                                       Application for
                                       Renewal of
                                       Registration of a Mark
                                       Under Section 8 & 9
                                       (TEAS).
2...................................  Combined Declaration of  0.42 (25 minutes).....               4            1.68          438.00             735.84
                                       Use of Mark in
                                       Commerce and
                                       Application for
                                       Renewal of
                                       Registration of a Mark
                                       Under Section 8 & 9
                                       (paper).
3...................................  Declaration of           0.08 (5 minutes)......             973           77.84          438.00          34,093.92
                                       Incontestability of a
                                       Mark Under Section 15
                                       (TEAS).
3...................................  Declaration of           0.17 (10 minutes).....               1            0.17          438.00              74.46
                                       Incontestability of a
                                       Mark Under Section 15
                                       (paper).
4...................................  Combined Declaration of  0.25 (15 minutes).....          77,863        1,946.50          438.00         852,567.00
                                       Use and
                                       Incontestability Under
                                       Section 8 and 15
                                       (TEAS).
4...................................  Combined Declaration of  0.42 (25 minutes).....               4            1.68          438.00             735.84
                                       Use and
                                       Incontestability Under
                                       Section 8 and 15
                                       (paper).
5...................................  Surrender of             0.08 (5 minutes)......             413           33.04          438.00          14,471.52
                                       Registration for
                                       Cancellation (TEAS
                                       Global).
5...................................  Surrender of             0.25 (15 minutes).....               1            0.25          438.00             109.52
                                       Registration for
                                       Cancellation (paper).
6...................................  Section 7 Request        0.42 (25 minutes).....           6,277        2,636.34          438.00       1,154,716.92
                                       (TEAS).
6...................................  Section 7 Request        0.50 (30 minutes).....               1            0.50          438.00             219.00
                                       (paper).
7...................................  Response to Office       0.50 (30 minutes).....          14,000        7,000.00          438.00       3,066,000.00
                                       Action for Post-
                                       Registration Matters
                                       (TEAS Global).
7...................................  Response to Office       0.67 (40 minutes).....               1            0.67          438.00             293.46
                                       Action for Post-
                                       Registration Matters
                                       (paper).

[[Page 18539]]

 
8...................................  Request to Divide        0.33 (20 minutes).....           3,017          995.61          438.00         436,077.18
                                       Registration (TEAS
                                       Global).
8...................................  Request to Divide        0.50 (30 minutes).....               1            0.50          438.00             219.00
                                       Registration (paper).
9...................................  Section 12(c) Affidavit  0.17 (10 minutes).....               1            0.17          438.00              74.46
                                       (TEAS Global).
9...................................  Section 12(c) Affidavit  0.33 (20 minutes).....               1            0.33          438.00             144.54
                                       (paper).
                                                                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..........................  .......................  ......................         204,362       55,665.70  ..............      24,381,576.60
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    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: 
$63,862,182.35. This collection has no capital startup, maintenance 
fees, or operating fees. This collection does have filing fees and 
postage costs.

Filing Fees

    Filing fees are charged per class of goods or services and can vary 
depending on the number of classes. The filing fees shown here are 
based on the minimum fee of one class per document associated with this 
information collection. The USPTO estimates that the filing fees 
associated with this collection will total $63,862,175 per year.

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            IC No.                          Item                  Response       Filling fee       Total cost
                               ..............................             (a)             (b)                (c)
                               ..............................  ..............  ..............          (a) x (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................  Declaration of Use of Mark in           19,466         $125.00      $2,433,250.00
                                Commerce Under Section 8
                                (TEAS).
1............................  Declaration of Use of Mark in                1          225.00             225.00
                                Commerce Under Section 8
                                (paper).
2............................  Combined Declaration of Use of          82,337          425.00      34,993,225.00
                                Mark in Commerce and
                                Application for Renewal of
                                Registration of a Mark Under
                                Section 8 & 9 (TEAS).
2............................  Combined Declaration of Use of               4          725.00           2,900.00
                                Mark in Commerce and
                                Application for Renewal of
                                Registration of a Mark Under
                                Section 8 & 9 (paper).
3............................  Declaration of                             973          200.00         194,600.00
                                Incontestability of a Mark
                                Under Section 15 (TEAS).
3............................  Declaration of                               1          300.00             300.00
                                Incontestability of a Mark
                                Under Section 15 (paper).
4............................  Combined Declaration of Use             77,863          325.00      25,305,475.00
                                and Incontestability Under
                                Section 8 and 15 (TEAS).
4............................  Combined Declaration of Use                  4          525.00           2,100.00
                                and Incontestability Under
                                Section 8 and 15 (paper).
6............................  Section 7 Request (TEAS)......           6,277          100.00         627,700.00
6............................  Section 7 Request (paper).....               1          200.00             200.00
8............................  Request to Divide Registration           3,017          100.00         301,700.00
                                (TEAS Global).
8............................  Request to Divide Registration               1          200.00             200.00
                                (paper).
9............................  Section 12(c) Affidavit (TEAS                1          100.00             100.00
                                Global).
9............................  Section 12(c) Affidavit                      1          200.00             200.00
                                (paper).
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
    Totals...................  ..............................         189,947  ..............      63,862,175.00
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Postage Costs

    Customers may incur postage costs when submitting items covered by 
this collection to the USPTO by mail. The USPTO estimates that 
approximately 98 percent of the responses in this collection will be 
submitted electronically. Of the remaining 2 percent, the vast majority 
will be submitted by mail for a total of 14 mailed submissions. The 
average first-class USPS postage cost for a mailed submission will be 
$0.49. Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the postage costs for the 
mailed submissions in this collection will be $7.35.

Total

    Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) 
cost burden for this collection, in the form of postage costs ($7.35) 
and filing fees ($63,862,175), is $63,862,182.35 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 costs) 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.

Marcie Lovett,
Records and Information Governance Division Director, OCTO, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2018-08738 Filed 4-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P