[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 189 (Tuesday, September 29, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60975-60980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-21517]



[[Page 60975]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

 Patent and Trademark Office


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Patent Processing

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments 
on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 
0651-0031 (Patent Processing). The purpose of this notice is to allow 
60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information 
collection to OMB.

DATES: To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information 
collection must be received on or before November 30, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by 
any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business 
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
     Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651-
0031 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Kimberly Hardy, Office of the Chief Administrative 
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 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 to [email protected] with ``0651-0031 comment'' in the 
subject line. Additional information about this information 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) is required 
by 35 U.S.C. 131 to examine an application for patent and, when 
appropriate, issue a patent. The USPTO is also required to publish 
patent applications, with certain exceptions, promptly after the 
expiration of a period of 18 months from the earliest filing date for 
which a benefit is sought under Title 35, United States Code 
(``eighteen-month publication''). This information collection covers 
certain situations that may arise which require that additional 
information be supplied in order for the USPTO to further process the 
patent or application.
    The information in this collection is used by the USPTO to continue 
the processing of the patent or application to ensure that applicants 
are complying with the patent regulations and to aid in the prosecution 
of the application. In addition, this renewal proposes to remove three 
items related to patent appeals and associate all submissions of those 
items to an existing information collection (0651-0063, Patent Trial 
and Appeal Board Appeals). These three items are: Notice of Appeal, 
Amendment to Cancel Claims During an Appeal, and Request for Oral 
Hearing.

II. Method of Collection

    Items in this information collection may be submitted via online 
electronic submissions. In limited circumstances, applicants may be 
permitted to submit the information in paper form by mail, fax, or hand 
delivery.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0031.
    Form Number(s): (AIA = American Invents; SB = Specimen Book; PTOL = 
Patent and Trademark Office Legal)

 PTO/SB/08a/08b (Information Disclosure Statements)
 PTO/SB/21 (Transmittal Form)
 PTO/SB/22 and PTO/AIA/22 (Petitions for Extension of Time 
under 37 CFR 1.136(a))
 PTO/SB/24 and PTO/AIA/24 (Express Abandonment under 37 CFR 
1.138)
 PTO/SB/25/26/43/63 (Statutory Disclaimers)
 PTO/SB/27 (Request for Expedited Examination of a Design 
Application)
 PTO/SB/61/64 (Petition for Revival of an Application for 
Patent Abandoned Unintentionally)
 PTO/SB/64a (Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent 
Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or 
International Filing)
 PTO/SB/67/68 (Requests to Access, Inspect, and Copy)
 PTO/SB/91 (Deposit Account Order Form)
 PTO/SB/92 (Certificates of Mailing or Transmission)
 PTO/SB/96 and PTO/AIA/96 (Statement under 37 CFR 3.73(b))
 PTO/SB/35 (Non-Publication Request)
 PTO/SB/36 (Rescission of Previous Non-Publication Request (35 
U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(ii) and, if applicable, Notice of Foreign Filing 
(35 U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(iii))
 PTO-2053-A/B, PTO-2054-A/B, and PTO-2055-A/B (Copy of the 
Applicant or Patentee's Record of the Application (including copies of 
the correspondence, list of the correspondence, and statements 
verifying whether the record is complete or not))
 PTO/SB/30 (Request for Continued Examination (RCE) 
Transmittal)
 PTO/SB/37 (Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of 
Examination under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d))
 PTOL/413A (Applicant-Initiated Interview Request Form)
 PTO/SB/17i (Processing Fee under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal)
 PTO/SB/38 (Request to Retrieve Electronic Priority 
Application(s) under 37 CFR 1.55(d))
 PTO/SB/39 (Authorization or Rescission of Authorization to 
Permit Access to Application-as-filed by Participating Offices under 37 
CFR 1.14(h))
 PTO/SB/24B and PTO/AIA/24B (Petition for Express Abandonment 
to Obtain a Refund)
 PTO/SB/33 and PTO/AIA/33 (Pre-Appeal Brief Request for Review)
 PTOL-413C (Request for First-Action Interview (Pilot Program))
 PTO/SB/130 (Petition to Make Special Based on Age for 
Advancement of Examination under 37 CFR 1.102(c)(1))
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Private sector; individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,669,397 respondents per year.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 3,669,397 responses per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
respondents between 2 minutes (.03 hours) and 8 hours to submit an item 
in this information collection depending on the instrument used, 
including the time to gather the necessary information, prepare the 
appropriate form or petition, and submit the completed request to the 
USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 3,187,341 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: 
$842,416,575.

[[Page 60976]]



                                               Table 1--Total Hourly Burden For Private Sector Respondents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Estimated
                                                    Estimated        annual      Estimated time for response     Estimated      Rate \1\     Estimated
        Item No.                   Item              annual         responses               (hours)            annual burden    ($/hour)   annual burden
                                                   respondents       (year)                                     (hour/year)
                                                                            (a)  (b)........................    (a) x (b) = c        (d)   (c) x (d) = e
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................  Information                   624,824         624,824  2..........................        1,249,648       $400    $499,859,200
                           Disclosure
                           Statements that
                           require the fee set
                           forth in 37 CFR
                           1.17(p).
2.......................  Transmittal Form.....         663,023         663,023  2..........................        1,326,046        145     192,276,670
3.......................  Petition for                  252,184         252,184  .3 (18 minutes)............           75,655        145      10,969,975
                           Extension of Time
                           under 37 CFR
                           1.136(a).
4.......................  Express Abandonment             1,838           1,838  .25 (15 minutes)...........              460        145          66,700
                           under 37 CFR 1.138.
5.......................  Statutory Disclaimers          57,891          57,891  .25 (15 minutes)...........           14,473        400       5,789,200
                           (including terminal
                           disclaimers).
6.......................  Request for Expedited           1,034           1,034  .25 (15 minutes)...........              259        400         103,600
                           Examination of a
                           Design Application.
7.......................  Petition for Revival            7,666           7,666  1..........................            7,666        400       3,066,400
                           of an Application
                           for Patent Abandoned
                           Unintentionally.
8.......................  Petition for Revival              140             140  1..........................              140        400          56,000
                           of an Application
                           for Patent Abandoned
                           for Failure to
                           Notify the Office of
                           a Foreign or
                           International Filing.
9.......................  Requests to Access,           824,500         824,500  .25 (15 minutes)...........          206,125        145      29,888,125
                           Inspect and Copy.
10......................  Deposit Account Order          64,460          64,460  .25 (15 minutes)...........           16,115        145       2,336,675
                           Form.
11......................  Certificates of               582,000         582,000  .03 (2 minutes)............           17,460        145       2,531,700
                           Mailing or
                           Transmission.
12......................  Statement Under 37            172,469         172,469  .25 (15 minutes)...........           43,117        400      17,246,900
                           CFR 3.73(c).
13......................  Non-publication                21,340          21,340  .25 (15 minutes)...........            5,335        400       2,134,000
                           Request.
14......................  Rescission of                   2,134           2,134  .25 (15 minutes)...........              534        400         213,600
                           Previous Non-
                           publication Request
                           (35 U.S.C. Sec.
                           122(b)(2)(B)(ii)
                           and, if applicable,
                           Notice of Foreign
                           Filing (35 U.S.C.
                           Sec.
                           122(b)(2)(B)(iii).
15......................  Electronic Filing                   1               1  2.5........................                3        145             435
                           System (EFS) Copy of
                           Application for
                           Publication.
16......................  Copy of File Content                1               1  4..........................                4        400           1,600
                           Showing Redactions.
17......................  Copy of the Applicant               6               6  2..........................               12        145           1,740
                           or Patentee's Record
                           of the Application
                           (including copies of
                           the correspondence,
                           list of the
                           correspondence, and
                           statements verifying
                           whether the record
                           is complete or not).
18......................  Request for Continued         154,766         154,766  .3 (18 minutes)............           46,430        400      18,572,000
                           Examination (RCE)
                           Transmittal.
19......................  Request for                       832             832  .2 (12 minutes)............              166        400          66,400
                           Suspension of Action
                           or Deferral of
                           Examination Under 37
                           CFR 1.103(b), (c),
                           or (d).
20......................  Request for Voluntary             134             134  .2 (12 minutes)............               27        145           3,915
                           Publication or
                           Republication
                           (includes
                           publication fee for
                           republication).
21......................  Applicant Initiated            30,557          30,557  .4 (24 minutes)............           12,223        400       4,889,200
                           Interview Request
                           Form.
22......................  Processing Fee Under              119             119  .08 (5 minutes)............               10        400           4,000
                           37 CFR 1.17(i)
                           Transmittal.
23......................  Request to Retrieve             5,858           5,858  .25 (15 minutes)...........            1,465        400         585,600
                           Electronic Priority
                           Application (s)
                           Under 37 CFR 1.55(h).
24......................  Authorization or                7,747           7,747  .25 (15 minutes)...........            1,937        400         774,800
                           Rescission of
                           Authorization to
                           Permit Access to
                           Application-as-filed
                           by Participating
                           Offices Under 37 CFR
                           1.14(h).
25......................  Petition for Express            1,827           1,827  .2 (12 minutes)............              365        400         146,000
                           Abandonment to
                           Obtain a Refund.
26......................  Pre-Appeal Brief                7,760           7,760  5..........................           38,800        400      15,520,000
                           Request for Review.
27......................  Request for Corrected          42,089          42,089  .08 (5 minutes)............            3,367        145         488,215
                           Filing Receipt.
28......................  Request for First               2,026           2,026  2.5........................            5,065        400       2,026,000
                           Action Interview
                           (Pilot Program)
                           (Electronic only).
29......................  Petition to Make                1,471           1,471  2..........................            2,942        400       1,176,800
                           Special Based on Age
                           for Advancement of
                           Examination under 37
                           CFR 1.102(c)(1) (EFS-
                           Web only).
30......................  Filing a submission                93              93  8..........................              744        400         297,600
                           after final
                           rejection (see 37
                           CFR 1.129(a)).
31......................  Correction of                   2,910           2,910  .75 (45 minutes)...........            2,183        400         873,200
                           inventorship after
                           first office action
                           on the merits.
32......................  Request for                    14,216          14,216  .75 (45 minutes)...........           10,662        400       4,264,800
                           correction in a
                           patent application
                           relating to
                           inventorship or an
                           inventor name, or
                           order of names,
                           other than in a
                           reissue application
                           (37 CFR 1.48).

[[Page 60977]]

 
33......................  Request to correct or          11,398          11,398  .2 (12 minutes)............            2,280        400         912,000
                           update the name of
                           the applicant under
                           37 CFR 1.46(c)(1),
                           or change the
                           applicant under 37
                           CFR 1.46(c)(2).
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............  .....................       3,559,314       3,559,314  ...........................        3,091,718  .........     817,143,050
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 2019 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property Law Association
  (AIPLA); https://www.aipla.org/detail/journal-issue/2019-report-of-the-economic-survey. The USPTO uses the mean rate for attorneys in private firms
  which is $400 per hour. The hourly rate for paraprofessional/paralegals is estimated at $145 from data published in the 2018 Utilization and
  Compensation Survey by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).


                                         Table 2--Total Hourly Burden for Individuals and Households Respondents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    Estimated
                                                    Estimated        annual      Estimated time for response     Estimated      Rate \2\     Estimated
        Item No.                   Item              annual         responses              (hours)             annual burden    ($/hour)   annual burden
                                                   respondents       (year)                                     (hour/year)
                                                                            (a)  (b)........................    (a) x (b) = c        (d)   (c) x (d) = e
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.......................  Information                    19,324          19,324  2..........................           38,648       $400     $15,459,200
                           Disclosure
                           Statements that
                           require the fee set
                           forth in 37 CFR
                           1.17(p).
2.......................  Transmittal Form.....          20,506          20,506  2..........................           41,012        145       5,946,740
3.......................  Petition for                    7,800           7,800  .3 (18 minutes)............            2,340        145         339,300
                           Extension of Time
                           under 37 CFR
                           1.136(a).
4.......................  Express Abandonment                57              57  .25 (15 minutes)...........               14        145           2,030
                           under 37 CFR 1.138.
5.......................  Statutory Disclaimers           1,790           1,790  .25 (15 minutes)...........              448        400         179,200
                           (including terminal
                           disclaimers).
6.......................  Request for Expedited              32              32  .25 (15 minutes)...........                8        400           3,200
                           Examination of a
                           Design Application.
7.......................  Petition for Revival              237             237  1..........................              237        400          94,800
                           of an Application
                           for Patent Abandoned
                           Unintentionally.
8.......................  Petition for Revival                4               4  1..........................                4        400           1,600
                           of an Application
                           for Patent Abandoned
                           for Failure to
                           Notify the Office of
                           a Foreign or
                           International Filing.
9.......................  Requests to Access,            25,500          25,500  .25 (15 minutes)...........            6,375        145         924,375
                           Inspect and Copy.
10......................  Deposit Account Order           1,994           1,994  .25 (15 minutes)...........              499        145          72,355
                           Form.
11......................  Certificates of                18,000          18,000  .03 (2 minutes)............              540        145          78,300
                           Mailing or
                           Transmission.
12......................  Statement Under 37              5,334           5,334  .25 (15 minutes)...........            1,334        400         533,600
                           CFR 3.73(c).
13......................  Non-publication                   660             660  .25 (15 minutes)...........              165        400          66,000
                           Request.
14......................  Rescission of                      66              66  .25 (15 minutes)...........               17        400           6,800
                           Previous Non-
                           publication Request
                           (35 U.S.C. Sec.
                           122(b)(2)(B)(ii)
                           and, if applicable,
                           Notice of Foreign
                           Filing (35 U.S.C.
                           Sec.
                           122(b)(2)(B)(iii).
18......................  Request for Continued           4,787           4,787  .3 (18 minutes)............            1,436        400         574,400
                           Examination (RCE)
                           Transmittal.
19......................  Request for                        26              26  .2 (12 minutes)............                5        400           2,000
                           Suspension of Action
                           or Deferral of
                           Examination Under 37
                           CFR 1.103(b), (c),
                           or (d).
20......................  Request for Voluntary               4               4  .2 (12 minutes)............                1        145             145
                           Publication or
                           Republication
                           (includes
                           publication fee for
                           republication).
21......................  Applicant Initiated               945             945  .4 (24 minutes)............              378        400         151,200
                           Interview Request
                           Form.
22......................  Processing Fee Under                4               4  .08 (5 minutes)............                1        400             400
                           37 CFR 1.17(i)
                           Transmittal.
23......................  Request to Retrieve               181             181  .25 (15 minutes)...........               45        400          18,000
                           Electronic Priority
                           Application (s)
                           Under 37 CFR 1.55(h).
24......................  Authorization or                  240             240  .25 (15 minutes)...........               60        400          24,000
                           Rescission of
                           Authorization to
                           Permit Access to
                           Application-as-filed
                           by Participating
                           Offices Under 37 CFR
                           1.14(h).
25......................  Petition for Express               56              56  .2 (12 minutes)............               11        400           4,400
                           Abandonment to
                           Obtain a Refund.
26......................  Pre-Appeal Brief                  240             240  5..........................            1,200        400         480,000
                           Request for Review.
27......................  Request for Corrected           1,302           1,302  .08 (5 minutes)............              104        145          15,080
                           Filing Receipt.
28......................  Request for First                  63              63  2.5........................              158        400          63,200
                           Action Interview
                           (Pilot Program)
                           (Electronic only).
29......................  Petition to Make                   45              45  2..........................               90        400          36,000
                           Special Based on Age
                           for Advancement of
                           Examination under 37
                           CFR 1.102(c)(1) (EFS-
                           Web only).

[[Page 60978]]

 
30......................  Filing a submission                 3               3  8..........................               24        400           9,600
                           after final
                           rejection (see 37
                           CFR 1.129(a)).
31......................  Correction of                      90              90  .75 (45 minutes)...........               68        400          27,200
                           inventorship after
                           first office action
                           on the merits.
32......................  Request for                       440             440  .75 (45 minutes)...........              330        400         132,000
                           correction in a
                           patent application
                           relating to
                           inventorship or an
                           inventor name, or
                           order of names,
                           other than in a
                           reissue application
                           (37 CFR 1.48).
33......................  Request to correct or             353             353  .2 (12 minutes)............               71        400          28,400
                           update the name of
                           the applicant under
                           37 CFR 1.46(c)(1),
                           or change the
                           applicant under 37
                           CFR 1.46(c)(2).
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............  .....................         110,083         110,083  ...........................           95,623  .........      25,273,525
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ 2019 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property Law Association
  (AIPLA); https://www.aipla.org/detail/journal-issue/2019-report-of-the-economic-survey. The USPTO uses the mean rate for attorneys in private firms
  which is $400 per hour. The hourly rate for paraprofessional/paralegals is estimated at $145 from data published in the 2018 Utilization and
  Compensation Survey by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).

    Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Respondent Cost Burden: 
$408,845,999.
    There are no recordkeeping, maintenance, or capital start-up costs 
associated with this information collection. However, this information 
collection has annual non-hour costs in the form of filing fees, as 
estimated in Table 3, and postage costs. The public may submit the 
paper forms and petitions in this information collection to the USPTO 
by mail through the United States Postal Service. If the submission is 
sent by first-class mail, the public may also include a signed 
certification of the date of mailing in order to receive credit for 
timely filing. The USPTO estimates that approximately 166,111 
submissions per year may be mailed. The USPTO estimates that the 
average submission will be mailed in a legal flat-rate Priority Mail 
envelope at a cost of $8.05; resulting in a total postage cost of 
$1,377,194.

                                              Table 3--Filing Fees
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Estimated                    Estimated non-
             Item No.                           Item                  annual      Estimated cost     hour cost
                                                                     responses                        burden
                                                                             (a)             (b)       (a) x (b)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1................................  Information Disclosure               $108,938            $260     $28,323,880
                                    Statements (IDS) that
                                    require the fee set forth in
                                    37 CFR 1.17(p) (large
                                    entity).
1................................  IDS that require the fee set           27,198             130       3,535,740
                                    forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p)
                                    (small entity).
1................................  IDS that require the fee set              770              65          50,050
                                    forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p)
                                    (micro entity).
3................................  One-month Extension of Time            84,428             220      18,574,160
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large
                                    entity).
3................................  One-month Extension of Time            34,564             110       3,802,040
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small
                                    entity).
3................................  One-month Extension of Time             4,035              55         221,925
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro
                                    entity).
3................................  Two-month Extension of Time            36,165             640      23,145,600
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large
                                    entity).
3................................  Two-month Extension of Time            19,728             320       6,312,960
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small
                                    entity).
3................................  Two-month Extension of Time             2,346             160         375,360
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro
                                    entity).
3................................  Three-month Extension of Time          30,668            1480      45,388,640
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large
                                    entity).
3................................  Three-month Extension of Time          30,442             740      22,527,080
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small
                                    entity).
3................................  Three-month Extension of Time           3,227             370       1,193,990
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro
                                    entity).
3................................  Four-month Extension of Time            1,860            2320       4,315,200
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large
                                    entity).
3................................  Four-month Extension of Time            2,366            1160       2,744,560
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small
                                    entity).
3................................  Four-month Extension of Time              294             580         170,520
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro
                                    entity).
3................................  Five-month Extension of Time            2,038            3160       6,440,080
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large
                                    entity).
3................................  Five-month Extension of Time            2,257            1580       3,566,060
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small
                                    entity).
3................................  Five-month Extension of Time              182             790         143,780
                                    under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro
                                    entity).
5................................  Statutory Disclaimer                   44,625             170       7,586,250
                                    (including terminal
                                    disclaimer) (large entity).
5................................  Statutory Disclaimer                   14,365             170       2,442,050
                                    (including terminal
                                    disclaimer) (small entity).
5................................  Statutory Disclaimer                      691             170         117,470
                                    (including terminal
                                    disclaimer) (micro entity).
6................................  Request for Expedited                     381            1600         609,600
                                    Examination of a Design
                                    Application (large entity).
6................................  Request for Expedited                     468             800         374,400
                                    Examination of a Design
                                    Application (small entity).
6................................  Request for Expedited                     218             400          87,200
                                    Examination of a Design
                                    Application (micro entity).
8................................  Petition for Revival of an              3,006            2100       6,312,600
                                    Application for Patent
                                    Abandoned Unintentionally
                                    (large entity).
8................................  Petition for Revival of an              3,730            1050       3,916,500
                                    Application for Patent
                                    Abandoned Unintentionally
                                    (small entity).

[[Page 60979]]

 
8................................  Petition for Revival of an              1,167             525         612,675
                                    Application for Patent
                                    Abandoned Unintentionally
                                    (micro entity).
9................................  Petition for revival of an                108            2100         226,800
                                    application for patent
                                    abandoned for failure to
                                    notify the office of a
                                    foreign or international
                                    filing (large entity).
9................................  Petition for revival of an                 22            1050          23,100
                                    application for patent
                                    abandoned for failure to
                                    notify the office of a
                                    foreign or international
                                    filing (small entity).
9................................  Petition for revival of an                 14             525           7,350
                                    application for patent
                                    abandoned for failure to
                                    notify the office of a
                                    foreign or international
                                    filing (micro entity).
17...............................  Copy of File Content Showing                1             140             140
                                    Redactions.
19...............................  Request for Continued                  74,458            1360     101,262,880
                                    Examination (RCE)
                                    Transmittal (First Request)
                                    (large entity).
19...............................  Request for Continued                  26,592             680      18,082,560
                                    Examination (RCE)
                                    Transmittal (First Request)
                                    (small entity).
19...............................  Request for Continued                   5,318             340       1,808,120
                                    Examination (RCE)
                                    Transmittal (First Request)
                                    (micro entity).
19...............................  Request for Continued                  37,076            2000      74,152,000
                                    Examination (RCE)
                                    Transmittal (Second and
                                    Subsequent Requests) (large
                                    entity).
19...............................  Request for Continued                  13,241            1000      13,241,000
                                    Examination (RCE)
                                    Transmittal (Second and
                                    Subsequent Requests) (small
                                    entity).
19...............................  Request for Continued                   2,648             500       1,324,000
                                    Examination (RCE)
                                    Transmittal (Second and
                                    Subsequent Requests) (micro
                                    entity).
21...............................  Request for Suspension of                 601             220         132,220
                                    Action or Deferral of
                                    Examination Under 37 CFR
                                    1.103(b), (c), or (d) (large
                                    entity).
21...............................  Request for Suspension of                 215             110          23,650
                                    Action or Deferral of
                                    Examination Under 37 CFR
                                    1.103(b), (c), or (d) (small
                                    entity).
21...............................  Request for Suspension of                  42              55           2,310
                                    Action or Deferral of
                                    Examination Under 37 CFR
                                    1.103(b), (c), or (d) (micro
                                    entity).
22...............................  Request for Voluntary                     138             140          19,320
                                    Publication or Republication
                                    (includes publication fee
                                    for republication).
24...............................  Processing Fee Under 37 CFR               123             140          17,220
                                    1.17(i) Transmittal.
32...............................  Filing a submission after                  46             880          40,480
                                    final rejection (see 37 CFR
                                    1.129(a)) (large entity).
32...............................  Filing a submission after                  44             440          19,360
                                    final rejection (see 37 CFR
                                    1.129(a)) (small entity).
32...............................  Filing a submission after                   5             220           1,100
                                    final rejection (see 37 CFR
                                    1.129(a)) (micro entity).
33...............................  Correction of inventorship               1156             640         739,840
                                    after first office action on
                                    the merits (large entity).
33...............................  Correction of inventorship                793             320         253,760
                                    after first office action on
                                    the merits (small entity).
33...............................  Correction of inventorship                 62             160           9,920
                                    after first office action on
                                    the merits (micro entity).
34...............................  Request for correction in a            10,259             260       2,667,340
                                    patent application relating
                                    to inventorship or an
                                    inventor name, or order of
                                    names, other than in a
                                    reissue application (37 CFR
                                    1.48) (large entity).
34...............................  Request for correction in a             3,664             130         476,320
                                    patent application relating
                                    to inventorship or an
                                    inventor name, or order of
                                    names, other than in a
                                    reissue application (37 CFR
                                    1.48) (small entity).
34...............................  Request for correction in a               733              65          47,645
                                    patent application relating
                                    to inventorship or an
                                    inventor name, or order of
                                    names, other than in a
                                    reissue application (37 CFR
                                    1.48) (micro entity).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
    Total........................  .............................  ..............  ..............     407,468,805
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

IV. Request for Comments

    The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
    (a) Evaluate 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) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of 
public record. USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the 
request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including 
an address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment-- including 
personal identifying information--may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold personal 
identifying information from public view, USPTO

[[Page 60980]]

cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

Kimberly Hardy,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2020-21517 Filed 9-28-20; 8:45 am]
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