[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26015-26018]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09972]


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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; Trademark Post Registration

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), as 
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on 
the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-
0055 (Trademark Post Registration). 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 July 12, 2021.

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-
0055 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, 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 at [email protected] with ``0651-0055 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 
marks with the USPTO.
    This information collection covers various communications submitted 
by individuals and businesses to the USPTO occurring after registration 
of a trademark. One type of communication is a request to amend 
registrations to delete goods or services that are no longer being used 
by the registrant or registration owner. Registered marks remain on the 
register for 10 years and can be renewed, but will be cancelled unless 
the registration 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 information 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. By keeping the register current and accurate, 
parties may reduce the possibility of initiating use of a mark 
previously adopted by another.

II. Methods of Collection

    Items in this information collection must be submitted via online 
electronic submissions through the Trademark Electronic Application 
System (TEAS). In limited circumstances, applicants may also be 
permitted to submit the information in paper form by mail or hand 
delivery.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0651-0055.
    Form Numbers:

 PTO Form 1563 (Declaration of Use of Mark in Commerce Under 
Section 8)
 PTO Form 1573 (Declaration of Incontestability of a Mark Under 
Section 15)
 PTO Form 1583 (Combined Declaration of Use and

[[Page 26016]]

Incontestability Under Sections 8 and 15)
 PTO Form 1597 (Section 7 Request)
 PTO Form 1963 (Combined Declaration of Use of Mark in Commerce 
and Application for Renewal of Registration of a Mark Under Sections 8 
and 9)
 PTO Form 2302 (Response to Office Action for Post-Registration 
Matters)
 PTO Form 2309 (Surrender of Registration for Cancellation)
 PTO Form 2310 (Request to Divide Registration)
 PTO Form 2311 (Section 12(c) Affidavit)

    Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Private sector; individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 219,694 respondents per year.
    Estimated Number of Responses: 219,694 responses per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it takes the 
public approximately between 10 minutes (0.17 hours) and 45 minutes 
(0.75 hours), 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 Hour: 113,620 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: 
$45,448,000.
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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.

                                             Table 1--Burden Hour/Burden Cost to Private Sector Respondents
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                                        Estimated       Estimated                                                                      Estimated  annual
   Item No.            Item              annual          annual       Estimated time for response    Estimated burden    Rate 1  ($/    respondent  cost
                                       respondents      responses               (hours)                (hour/year)          hour)            burden
                                                                (a)  (b)..........................    (a) x (b) = (c)             (d)    (c) x (d) = (e)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............  Declaration of Use            11,932          11,932  0.50 (30 minutes)............              5,966            $400         $2,386,400
                of Mark in Commerce
                Under Section 8
                (PTO Form 1563).
2............  Combined Declaration          70,235          70,235  0.50 (30 minutes)............             35,118             400         14,047,200
                of Use of Mark in
                Commerce and
                Application for
                Renewal of
                Registration of a
                Mark Under Sections
                8 & 9 (PTO Form
                1963).
3............  Declaration of                   853             853  0.17 (10 minutes)............                145             400             58,000
                Incontestability of
                a Mark Under
                Section 15 (PTO
                Form 1573).
4............  Combined Declaration          72,448          72,448  0.50 (30 minutes)............             36,224             400         14,489,600
                of Use and
                Incontestability
                Under Sections 8
                and 15 (PTO Form
                1583).
5............  Surrender of                     390             390  0.17 (10 minutes)............                 66             400             26,400
                registration for
                cancellation (PTO
                Form 2309).
6............  Section 7 Request              5,330           5,330  0.58 (35 minutes)............              3,091             400          1,236,400
                (PTO Form 1597).
7............  Response to Office            12,001          12,001  0.75 (45 minutes)............              9,001             400          3,600,400
                Action for Post-
                Registration
                Matters (PTO Form
                2302).
8............  Request to Divide              2,566           2,566  0.50 (30 minutes)............              1,283             400            513,200
                Registration (PTO
                Form 2310).
9............  Section 12(c)                      1               1  0.25 (15 minutes)............                  1             400                400
                Affidavit (PTO Form
                2311).
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Total............         175,756         175,756  .............................             90,895  ..............         36,358,000
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                                         Table 2--Burden Hour/Burden Cost to Individual or Household Respondents
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                                        Estimated       Estimated                                                                       Estimated annual
   Item No.            Item              annual          annual       Estimated time for response    Estimated burden    Rate 2 ($/     respondent cost
                                       respondents      responses               (hours)                (hour/year)          hour)            burden
                                                                (a)  (b)..........................    (a) x (b) = (c)             (d)    (c) x (d) = (e)
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1............  Declaration of Use             2,983           2,983  0.50 (30 minutes)............              1,492            $400           $596,800
                of Mark in Commerce
                Under Section 8
                (PTO Form 1563).
2............  Combined Declaration          17,559          17,559  0.50 (30 minutes)............              8,780             400          3,512,000
                of Use of Mark in
                Commerce and
                Application for
                Renewal of
                Registration of a
                Mark Under Sections
                8 & 9 (PTO Form
                1963).
3............  Declaration of                   213             213  0.17 (10 minutes)............                 36             400             14,400
                Incontestability of
                a Mark Under
                Section 15 (PTO
                Form 1573).
4............  Combined Declaration          18,112          18,112  0.50 (30 minutes)............              9,056             400          3,622,400
                of Use and
                Incontestability
                Under Sections 8
                and 15 (PTO Form
                1583).
5............  Surrender of                      98              98  0.17 (10 minutes)............                 17             400              6,800
                registration for
                cancellation (PTO
                Form 2309).
6............  Section 7 Request              1,332           1,332  0.58 (35 minutes)............                773             400            309,200
                (PTO Form 1597).

[[Page 26017]]

 
7............  Response to Office             3,000           3,000  0.75 (45 minutes)............              2,250             400            900,000
                Action for Post-
                Registration
                Matters (PTO Form
                2302).
8............  Request to Divide                641             641  0.50 (30 minutes)............                321             400            128,400
                Registration (PTO
                Form 2310).
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Total............          43,938          43,938  .............................             22,725  ..............          9,090,000
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    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: 
$89,646,738. This information collection has no capital startup, 
maintenance fees, or operating fees. However, this information 
collection does have filing fees and postage costs. The total annual 
non-hour respondent cost burden for this information collection in the 
form of filing fees ($89,646,625) and postage costs ($113) is 
approximately $89,646,738.
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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.
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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.

                     Table 3--Filing Fees (Non-Hour) Cost Burden Trademark Post Registration
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                                                                  Estimated
         Item No.                          Item                    annual      Estimated cost    Estimated non-
                                                                  responses                     hour cost burden
                                                                          (a)             (b)    (a) x (b) = (c)
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1.........................  Declaration of Use of Mark in              14,915            $225         $3,355,875
                             Commerce Under Section 8.
2.........................  Combined Declaration of Use of             87,791             525         46,090,275
                             Mark in Commerce and Application
                             for Renewal of Registration of a
                             Mark Under Sections 8 & 9 (TEAS).
2.........................  Combined Declaration of Use of                  3             825              2,475
                             Mark in Commerce and Application
                             for Renewal of Registration of a
                             Mark Under Sections 8 & 9
                             (paper).
2.........................  Issuing New Certificate of                    200             100             20,000
                             Registration.
2.........................  Certificate of Correction,                  6,463             100            646,300
                             Registrant's Error (TEAS).
2.........................  Certificate of Correction,                      1             200                200
                             Registrant's Error (paper).
3.........................  Declaration of Incontestability             1,066             200            213,200
                             of a Mark Under Section 15.
4.........................  Combined Declaration of Use and            90,557             425         38,486,725
                             Incontestability Under Section 8
                             and 15 (TEAS).
4.........................  Combined Declaration of Use and                 3             625              1,875
                             Incontestability Under Section 8
                             and 15 (paper).
6.........................  Section 7 Request................             488             100             48,800
6-7.......................  Deletion of Goods or Services               1,839             250            459,750
                             after submission and prior to
                             acceptance of a section 8
                             affidavit (TEAS).
6-7.......................  Deletion of Goods or Services                   1             350                350
                             after submission and prior to
                             acceptance of a section 8
                             affidavit (paper).
8.........................  Request to Divide Registration...           3,207             100            320,700
9.........................  Section 12(c) Affidavit..........               1             100                100
                                                              --------------------------------------------------
                               Total.........................  ..............  ..............         89,646,625
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Postage Costs

    Although the USPTO requires 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 approximately 14 
submissions per year may be mailed to the USPTO, for a total postage 
cost of $113 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 shall 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 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. The USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the 
request to OMB to approve this information

[[Page 26018]]

collection. Before including an address, phone number, email address, 
or other personal identifying information (PII) in a comment, be aware 
that the entire comment--including PII--may be made publicly available 
at any time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold PII from 
public view, the 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. 2021-09972 Filed 5-11-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P