[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38599-38600]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16882]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Institute of Standards and Technology


Proposed Information Collection; NIST Invention Disclosure and 
Inventor Information Collection

AGENCY: National Institute of Standards and Technology, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce, as part of its continuing effort 
to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on 
proposed and/or continuing information collections, as required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 7, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Elizabeth Reinhart, 
Management Analyst, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 
Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20889- 1710, (or via the internet at 
[email protected]).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Technology Partnerships Office, 100 Bureau Ave. MS 2200, 
Gaithersburg, Maryland 301-975-2522, and [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Abstract

    The NIST DN-45 Invention Disclosure Form is used to collect 
information pertaining to inventions created by Federal employees or by 
non-Federally employed individuals who have created an invention using 
NIST laboratory facilities as NIST Associates. The collection of this 
information is required to protect the United States rights to 
inventions created using Federal resources. The information collected 
on the form allows the Government to determine: (1) If an invention has 
been created; (2) the status of any statutory bar that pertains to the 
potential invention or that may pertain to the invention in the future. 
The information collected may allow the Government to begin a patent 
application process.
    The Inventor Information Sheet is used to collect from individuals 
who have been named as potential inventors on a NIST Invention 
Disclosure Form. The collection of this information is used for 
multiple purposes:
    (1) Some of the information may be required to file a patent 
application, if NIST seeks to protect a federally owned invention, 
pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 207.
    (2) The form, in part, is a statement made by the respondent 
declaring whether the respondent considers herself/himself to be an 
inventor.
    (3) Some of the information is needed for NIST to determine 
potential assignees with which NIST would potentially negotiate 
consolidation of rights and other patent related matters.
    (4) Some of the information helps NIST determine under which 
statutory authority NIST may consolidate rights in an invention with 
other potential assignees.
    (5) Country citizenship information is required to determine 
whether a Scientific and Technology agreement or treaty with the 
respondent's country may impact the U.S. Government's rights to the 
invention.
    The information is collected by the Technology Partnerships Office 
and shared with the Office of Chief Counsel at NIST. The information 
may also be shared with non-Governmental entities that may have 
ownership rights to the potential invention. The Government collects 
this information to execute the policy and objective of the Congress 
expressed at 35 U.S.C. 200. 35 U.S.C. 207 authorizes Federal agencies 
to apply for, obtain, and maintain patents or other forms of protection 
. . . on inventions in which the Federal Government owns a right, 
title, or interest. 35 U.S.C. 207 also authorizes each Federal agency 
to undertake all other suitable and necessary steps to protect and 
administer rights to federally owned inventions on behalf of the 
Federal government. The information collected through the NIST DN-45 is 
necessary for NIST to execute the authority granted at 35 U.S.C. 207.

II. Method of Collection

    Information is collected by completing the NIST DN-45 form which is 
a template created in Microsoft Word.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: New Collection 0693-XXXX.
    Form Number(s): NIST DN-45.
    Type of Review: Regular submission.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: Invention Disclosure Form--10 per 
year. Inventor Information Form--100 per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: Invention Disclosure Form: 3 hours. 
Inventor Information Form: 30 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: Invention Disclosure Form: 30 
hours. Inventor Information Form: 50 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost to Public: $500.

IV. Request for Comments

    NIST invites comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will 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, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

Sheleen Dumas,
Departmental Lead PRA Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, 
Commerce Department.
[FR Doc. 2019-16882 Filed 8-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-13-P