[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 9, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7430-7433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02641]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


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

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-
0051 (Madrid Protocol). 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 April 11, 2022.

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-
0051 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 ``0651-0051 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

    This collection of information is required by the Trademark Act of 
1946, 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. 
The Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the 
International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) is an 
international treaty that allows a trademark owner to seek registration 
in any of the participating countries by filing a single international 
application. The International Bureau (IB) of the World Intellectual 
Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland, administers the 
international registration system. The Madrid Protocol Implementation 
Act of 2002 amended the Trademark Act to provide that: (1) The owner of 
a U.S. application or registration may seek protection of its mark in 
any of the participating countries by submitting a single international 
application through the USPTO and (2) the holder of an international 
registration may request an extension of protection of the 
international registration to the United States. The Madrid Protocol 
came into effect in the United States on November 2, 2003, and is 
implemented under 15 U.S.C. 1141 et seq. and 37 CFR part 2 and Part 7. 
Individuals and businesses that use or intend to use such marks in 
commerce may file an application to register the marks with the USPTO. 
Both the register and the information provided in pending applications 
for registration can be accessed by the public in order to determine 
the availability of a mark and lessen the likelihood of initiating the 
use of a mark previously adopted by another.

II. Method 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: 0651-0051.
    Forms:

 PTO/1663 (Declaration of Continued Use/Excusable Nonuse of 
Mark in Commerce Under Section 71)
 PTO/1683 (Combined Declaration of Continued Use/Excusable 
Nonuse and Incontestability Under Sections 71 and 15)
 PTO/2131 (Application for International Registration)
 PTO/2132 (Application for Subsequent Designation)
 PTO/2133 (Response to Notice of Irregularity)
 PTO/2314 (Replacement Request)
 PTO/2315 (Transformation Request)
 PTO/2316 (Petition to Director to Review Denial of 
Certification of International Application)
 PTO/2317 (Petition to Director for an International 
Application/Registration)

    Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Private sector; individuals and households.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 54,082 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 54,082 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses 
in

[[Page 7431]]

this information collection will take the public approximately between 
40 minutes (0.66 hours) to 75 minutes (1.25 hours) to complete. This 
includes the time to gather the necessary information, prepare the 
forms or documents, and submit the completed request to the USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 48,671 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $21,171,885.

                                       Table 1--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Private Sector Respondents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                             Estimated
                                        Estimated     Responses per     Estimated       Estimated time for       Estimated     Rate \1\       annual
   Item No.            Item              annual        respondent        annual          response (hours)      burden (hour/   ($/hour)     respondent
                                       respondents                      responses                                  year)                    cost burden
                                                (a)             (b)     (a) x (b) =  (d)....................     (c) x (d) =         (f)     (e) x (f) =
                                                                                (c)                                      (e)                         (g)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............  Application for                7,778               1           7,778  .66 (40 minutes).......           5,133        $435      $2,232,855
                International
                Registration; PTO-
                2131.
2............  Request for                   34,960               1          34,960  1......................          34,960         435      15,207,600
                Extension of
                Protection of
                International
                Registration to the
                United States
                (WIPO).
3............  Response to Notice               812               1             812  .66 (40 minutes).......             536         435         233,160
                of Irregularity;
                PTO-2133.
4............  Replacement Request;              10               1              10  .75 (45 minutes).......               8         435           3,480
                PTO-2314.
5............  Transformation                     2               1               2  .66 (40 minutes).......               1         435             435
                Request; PTO-2315.
6............  Petition to Director               3               1               3  1.25 (75 minutes)......               4         435           1,740
                to Review Denial of
                Certification of
                International
                Application; PTO-
                2316.
7............  Application for                  740               1             740  1.25 (75 minutes)......             925         435         402,375
                Subsequent
                Designation; PTO-
                2132.
8............  Declaration of                 4,703               1           4,703  .66 (40 minutes).......           3,104         435       1,350,240
                Continued Use/
                Excusable Nonuse of
                Mark in Commerce
                Under Section 71;
                PTO-1663.
9............  Combined Declaration           2,317               1           2,317  .66 (40 minutes).......           1,529         435         665,115
                of Continued Use/
                Excusable Nonuse
                and
                Incontestability
                Under Sections 71
                and 15; PTO-1683.
10...........  Petition to Director              50               1              50  .66 (40 minutes).......              33         435          14,355
                for an
                International
                Application/
                Registration; PTO-
                2317.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Total............          51,375  ..............          51,375  .......................          46,233  ..........      20,111,355
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 2021 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property Law Association
  (AIPLA); pg F-27. The USPTO uses the average billing rate for intellectual property attorneys in private firms which is $435 per hour. (https://www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/economic-survey).


                                 Table 2--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Individuals and Households Respondents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                             Estimated
                                        Estimated     Responses per     Estimated       Estimated time for       Estimated     Rate \2\       annual
   Item No.            Item              annual        respondent        annual          response (hours)      burden (hour/   ($/hour)     respondent
                                       respondents                      responses                                  year)                    cost burden
                                                (a)             (b)     (a) x (b) =  (d)....................     (c) x (d) =         (f)     (e) x (f) =
                                                                                (c)                                      (e)                         (g)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............  Application for                  409               1             409  .66 (40 minutes).......             270        $435        $117,450
                International
                Registration; PTO-
                2131.
2............  Request for                    1,840               1           1,840  1......................           1,840         435         800,400
                Extension of
                Protection of
                International
                Registration to the
                United States
                (WIPO).
3............  Response to Notice                43               1              43  .66 (40 minutes).......              28         435          12,180
                of Irregularity;
                PTO-2133.
4............  Replacement Request;               1               1               1  .75 (45 minutes).......               1         435             435
                PTO-2314.
5............  Transformation                     1               1               1  .66 (40 minutes).......               1         435             435
                Request; PTO-2315.
6............  Petition to Director               2               1               2  1.25 (75 minutes)......               3         435           1,305
                to Review Denial of
                Certification of
                International
                Application; PTO-
                2316.
7............  Application for                   39               1              39  1.25 (75 minutes)......              49         435          21,315
                Subsequent
                Designation; PTO-
                2132.
8............  Declaration of                   248               1             248  .66 (40 minutes).......             164         435          71,340
                Continued Use/
                Excusable Nonuse of
                Mark in Commerce
                Under Section 71;
                PTO-1663.
9............  Combined Declaration             122               1             122  .66 (40 minutes).......              81         435          35,235
                of Continued Use/
                Excusable Nonuse
                and
                Incontestability
                Under Sections 71
                and 15; PTO-1683.
10...........  Petition to Director               2               1               2  .66 (40 minutes).......               1         435             435
                for an
                International
                Application/
                Registration; PTO-
                2317.
                                    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Totals...........           2,707  ..............           2,707  .......................           2,438  ..........       1,060,530
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Ibid.


[[Page 7432]]

    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden: 
$21,516,380. This information collection has no capital start-up, 
maintenance costs, or recordkeeping costs. However, this information 
collection does have annual costs in the form of filing fees and 
postage costs.
    Filing Fees: Filing fees are charged per class of goods or services 
and can vary depending on the number of classes. The filing fees shown 
here are based on the minimum fee of one class per document associated 
with this information collection.

                        Table 3--Estimated Total Annual Respondent Filing Fee Cost Burden
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Estimated                    Total non-hour
         Item No.                           Item                      annual        Filing fee      cost burden
                                                                     responses          ($)            (yr)
                                                                             (a)             (b)     (a) x (b) =
                                                                                                             (c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................  Application for International                   6,959            $100        $695,900
                            Registration (for certifying an
                            international application based on a
                            single basic application or
                            registration, per international
                            class) (TEAS).
1........................  Application for International                       1             200             200
                            Registration (for certifying an
                            international application based on a
                            single basic application or
                            registration, per international
                            class) (paper).
1........................  Application for International                   1,228             150         184,200
                            Registration (for certifying an
                            international application based on
                            more than one basic application or
                            registration, per international
                            class) (TEAS).
1........................  Application for International                       1             250             250
                            Registration (for certifying an
                            international application based on
                            more than one basic application or
                            registration, per international
                            class) (paper).
2........................  Request for Extension of Protection            36,800             500      18,400,000
                            of International Registration to the
                            United States (WIPO).
3........................  Transmitting a Subsequent Designation             779             100          77,900
                            under Section 7.21 (TEAS).
3........................  Transmitting a Subsequent Designation               1             200             200
                            under Section 7.21 (paper).
4........................  Notice of Replacement under Section                10             100           1,000
                            7.28 (per international class)
                            (TEAS).
4........................  Notice of Replacement under Section                 1             200             200
                            7.28 (per international class)
                            (paper).
6........................  Transformation Request (per                         2             350             700
                            international class (TEAS).
6........................  Transformation Request (per                         1             750             750
                            international class) (paper).
7........................  Petition to Director to Review Denial               5             250           1,250
                            of Certification of International
                            Application (TEAS).
7........................  Petition to Director to Review Denial               1             350             350
                            of Certification of International
                            Application (paper).
8........................  Declaration of Continued Use/                   4,951             225       1,113,975
                            Excusable Nonuse of Mark in Commerce
                            Under Section 71 (per international
                            class) (TEAS).
8........................  Declaration of Continued Use/                       1             325             325
                            Excusable Nonuse of Mark in Commerce
                            Under Section 71 (per international
                            class) (paper).
9........................  Combined Declaration of Continued Use/          2,439             425       1,036,575
                            Excusable Nonuse and
                            Incontestability Under Sections 71
                            and 15 (per international class)
                            (TEAS).
9........................  Combined Declaration of Continued Use/              1             625             625
                            Excusable Nonuse and
                            Incontestability Under Sections 71
                            and 15 (per international class)
                            (paper).
10.......................  Petition to Director for an                         2             250             500
                            International Application/
                            Registration (TEAS).
10.......................  Petition to Director for an                         1             350             350
                            International Application/
                            Registration (paper).
10.......................  Request to Record an Assignment or                  8             100             800
                            Restriction, or Release of a
                            Restriction, under Sections 7.23 and
                            7.24 (TEAS).
10.......................  Request to Record an Assignment or                  1             200             200
                            Restriction, or Release of a
                            Restriction, under Section 7.23 and
                            7.24 (paper).
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                              Total.............................          53,193  ..............      21,516,250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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). Approximately 14 submissions per year are estimated to 
be mailed to the USPTO. The USPTO estimates that the average postage 
cost for a mailed submission, using a Priority Mail flat rate legal 
envelope will be $9.25. Therefore, the USPTO estimates $130 in postage 
costs associated with this information collection.

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 personally 
identifiable information (PII)

[[Page 7433]]

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, 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. 2022-02641 Filed 2-8-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P