[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 206 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67522-67524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23528]


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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; Comments 
Request; Substantive Submissions Made During Prosecution of the 
Trademark Application

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

ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.

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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: 
0651-0054 (Substantive Submissions Made During Prosecution of the 
Trademark Application). 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 December 22, 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-
0054 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 Catherine Cain, Attorney Advisor, 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 ``0651-0054 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) 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 
mark with the USPTO. Such individuals and businesses may also submit 
various communications to the USPTO during the prosecution of an 
application.
    This information collection covers the various communications that 
may be submitted by the applicant, including providing additional 
information needed to process a request to delete a particular filing 
basis from an application or to divide an application identifying 
multiple goods and/or services into two or more separate applications. 
This information collection also covers requests for a 6-month 
extension of time to file a statement that the mark is in use in 
commerce or petitions to revive an application that abandoned for 
failure to submit a timely response to an office action or a timely 
statement of use or extension request. This information collection also 
covers circumstances in which an applicant may expressly abandon an 
application by filing a written request for withdrawal of the 
application.
    The regulations implementing the Act are set forth in 37 CFR part 
2. These regulations mandate that each register entry include the mark, 
the goods and/or services in connection with which the mark is used, 
ownership information, dates of use, and certain other information. The 
USPTO also provides similar information concerning pending 
applications. The register and pending application information may be 
accessed by an individual or by businesses to determine the 
availability of a mark. By accessing the USPTO's information, parties 
may reduce the possibility of initiating use of a mark previously 
adopted by another. The Federal trademark registration process may 
thereby reduce the number of filings between both litigating parties 
and the courts.

II. Method of Collection

    Items in this information collection must 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 Control Number: 0651-0054.
    Forms: (PTO = Patent and Trademark Office)

 PTO Form 1553 (Trademark/Service Mark Allegation of Use 
(Statement of Use/Amendment to Allege Use))
 PTO Form 1581 (Request for Extension of Time to File a 
Statement of Use)
 PTO Form 2194 (Petition to Revive Abandoned Application--
Failure to Respond Timely to Office Action)
 PTO Form 2195 (Petition to Revive Abandoned Application--
Failure to File Timely Statement of Use or Extension Request)
 PTO Form 2200 (Request to Delete Section 1(b) Basis, Intent to 
Use)
 PTO Form 2202 (Request for Express Abandonment (Withdrawal) of 
Application)
 PTO Form 2301 (Petition to Director)

    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved information 
collection.
    Affected Public: Private sector; individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 333,582 respondents per year.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 333,582 responses per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
the public from approximately 27 minutes (0.5 hours) to 65 minutes (1.1 
hours) to complete a response, depending on the complexity of the 
situation. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, 
prepare the appropriate documents, and submit the information to the 
USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 208,219 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: 
$83,287,600.
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    \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.

[[Page 67523]]



                                                     Table 1--Burden Hour/Burden Cost to Respondents
                                                                    [Private sector]
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                                                                    Estimated
                                                    Estimated        annual         Estimated time for       Estimated     Rate \1\ ($/      Estimated
       Item No.                  Item                annual         responses        response (hours)      annual burden       hour)       annual burden
                                                   respondents       (year)                                 (hour/year)
                                                                            (a)  (b)....................   (a) x (b) = c             (d)   (c) x (d) = e
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1....................  Trademark/Service Mark            70,451          70,451  0.9 (55 minutes).......          63,406            $400     $25,362,400
                        Allegation of Use
                        (Amendment to Allege
                        Use/Statement of Use)
                        (PTO Form 1553).
2....................  Request for Extension of         172,942         172,942  0.5 (27 minutes).......          86,471             400      34,588,400
                        Time to File a
                        Statement of Use (PTO
                        Form 1581).
3....................  Petition to Revive                12,924          12,924  0.9 (55 minutes).......          11,632             400       4,652,800
                        Abandoned Application--
                        Failure to Respond
                        Timely to Office Action
                        (PTO Form 2194).
4....................  Petition to Revive                   667             667  0.6 (35 minutes).......             400             400         160,000
                        Abandoned Application--
                        Failure to File Timely
                        Statement of Use or
                        Extension Request (PTO
                        Form 2195).
5....................  Request to Delete                  1,400           1,400  0.4 (25 minutes).......             560             400         224,000
                        Section 1(b) Basis,
                        Intent to Use (PTO Form
                        2200).
6....................  Request for Express                5,600           5,600  0.4 (25 minutes).......           2,240             400         896,000
                        Abandonment
                        (Withdrawal) of
                        Application (PTO Form
                        2202).
7....................  Request to Divide                  2,400           2,400  0.6 (35 minutes).......           1,440             400         576,000
                        Application.
8....................  Response to Intent-to-                 2               2  1.1 (65 minutes).......               2             400             800
                        Use (ITU) Divisional
                        Unit Office Action.
9....................  Response to Petition to              240             240  0.8 (45 minutes).......             192             400          76,800
                        Revive Deficiency
                        Letter.
10...................  Petition to the Director             160             160  0.9 (55 minutes).......             144             400          57,600
                        (PTO Form 2301).
11...................  Petition to Revive with               80              80  1.1 (65 minutes).......              88             400          35,200
                        Request to Delete
                        Section 1(b) Basis or
                        to Delete ITU Goods/
                        Services/Collective
                        Membership Organization
                        After NOA.
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total............  ........................         266,866         266,866  .......................         166,575  ..............      66,630,000
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                                                     Table 2--Burden Hour/Burden Cost to Respondents
                                                               [Individuals or households]
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                                                                    Estimated
                                                    Estimated        annual         Estimated time for       Estimated     Rate \2\ ($/      Estimated
       Item No.                  Item                annual         responses        response (hours)      annual burden       hour)       annual burden
                                                   respondents       (year)                                 (hour/year)
                                                                            (a)  (b)....................   (a) x (b) = c             (d)   (c) x (d) = e
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1....................  Trademark/Service Mark            17,613          17,613  0.9 (55 minutes).......          15,852            $400      $6,340,800
                        Allegation of Use
                        (Amendment to Allege
                        Use/Statement of Use)
                        (PTO Form 1553).
2....................  Request for Extension of          43,235          43,235  0.5 (27 minutes).......          21,618             400       8,647,200
                        Time to File a
                        Statement of Use (PTO
                        Form 1581).
3....................  Petition to Revive                 3,231           3,231  0.9 (55 minutes).......           2,908             400       1,163,200
                        Abandoned Application--
                        Failure to Respond
                        Timely to Office Action
                        (PTO Form 2194).
4....................  Petition to Revive                   167             167  0.6 (35 minutes).......             100             400          40,000
                        Abandoned Application--
                        Failure to File Timely
                        Statement of Use or
                        Extension Request (PTO
                        Form 2195).
5....................  Request to Delete                    350             350  0.4 (25 minutes).......             140             400          56,000
                        Section 1(b) Basis,
                        Intent to Use (PTO Form
                        2200).
6....................  Request for Express                1,400           1,400  0.4 (25 minutes).......             560             400         224,000
                        Abandonment
                        (Withdrawal) of
                        Application (PTO Form
                        2202).
7....................  Request to Divide                    600             600  0.6 (35 minutes).......             360             400         144,000
                        Application.
9....................  Response to Petition to               60              60  0.8 (45 minutes).......              48             400          19,200
                        Revive Deficiency
                        Letter.
10...................  Petition to the Director              40              40  0.9 (55 minutes).......              36             400          14,400
                        (PTO Form 2301).
11...................  Petition to Revive with               20              20  1.1 (65 minutes).......              22             400           8,800
                        Request to Delete
                        Section 1(b) Basis or
                        to Delete ITU; Goods/
                        Services/Collective
                        Membership Organization
                        After NOA.
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    Total............  ........................          66,716          66,716  .......................          41,644  ..............      16,657,600
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[[Page 67524]]

    Estimated Total Annual (Non-Hour) Respondent Cost Burden: 
$37,867,690. There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or 
recordkeeping costs associated with this information collection. 
However, this information collection does have annual (non-hour) cost 
burden in the form of postage costs and filing fees.
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    \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.

                                   Table 3--Filing Fees--Non-Hour Cost Burden
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                                                                     Estimated                    Estimated non-
           Item No.                           Item                    annual       Estimated fee     hour cost
                                                                     responses        amount          burden
                                                                             (a)             (b)       (a) x (b)
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1.............................  Trademark/Service Mark                        27            $200          $5,400
                                 Allegation of Use (Amendment to
                                 Allege Use/Statement of Use)
                                 (Paper).
1.............................  Trademark/Service Mark                    88,037             100       8,803,700
                                 Allegation of Use (Amendment to
                                 Allege Use/Statement of Use)
                                 (TEAS).
2.............................  Request for Extension of Time to              59             225          13,275
                                 File a Statement of Use (Paper).
2.............................  Request for Extension of Time to         216,118             125      27,014,750
                                 File a Statement of Use (TEAS).
3.............................  Petition to Revive Abandoned                   5             200           1,000
                                 Application--Failure to Respond
                                 Timely to Office Action (Paper).
3.............................  Petition to Revive Abandoned              16,150             100       1,615,000
                                 Application--Failure to Respond
                                 Timely to Office Action (TEAS).
4.............................  Petition to Revive Abandoned                   1             200             200
                                 Application--Failure to File
                                 Timely Statement of Use or
                                 Extension Request (Paper).
4.............................  Petition to Revive Abandoned                 833             100          83,300
                                 Application--Failure to File
                                 Timely Statement of Use or
                                 Extension Request (TEAS).
7.............................  Request to Divide Application                  1             200             200
                                 (Paper).
7.............................  Request to Divide Application              2,999             100         299,900
                                 (TEAS Global).
10............................  Petition to the Director (Paper)               1             200             200
10............................  Petition to the Director (TEAS).             199             100          19,900
11............................  Petition to Revive With Request                1             200             200
                                 to Delete Section 1(b) Basis or
                                 to Delete ITU Goods/Services/
                                 Collective Membership
                                 Organization After NOA (Paper).
11............................  Petition to Revive With Request               99             100           9,900
                                 to Delete Section 1(b) Basis or
                                 to Delete ITU Goods/Services/
                                 Collective Membership
                                 Organization After NOA (TEAS
                                 Global).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
  Total.......................  ................................  ..............  ..............      37,866,925
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    The filing fees for several items in this information collection 
are charged per class of goods and/or services; therefore, the filing 
fees will vary for each respondent depending on the number of classes. 
The total filing fees of $37,866,925 shown here are based on the 
minimum fee of one class for those items for which a fee is required.
    Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this information 
collection be submitted electronically, the items may, in limited 
situations, be submitted by mail through the United States Postal 
Service (USPS). The USPTO estimates that the average postage cost for a 
mailed submission, using a Priority Mail 2-day flat rate legal 
envelope, will be $8.05. The USPTO estimates that with a total of 95 
permitted paper submissions, the postage costs in this information 
collection will be $765.
    The USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) respondent 
cost burden for this information collection, in the form of postage 
costs and filing fees is $37,867,690 per year.
    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 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. 2020-23528 Filed 10-22-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P