[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 87754-87758]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-27844]


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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; International Design Applications (Hague Agreement)

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-
0075 International Design Applications (Hague Agreement). 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 February 20, 2024.

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-
0075 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Request for additional information 
should be directed to Rafael Bacares, 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 571-272-3276; 
or by email at [email protected] with ``0651-0075 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 Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act of 2012 \1\ (PLTIA) 
amends the patent laws to implement the provisions of the Geneva Act of 
the Hague Agreement Concerning International Registration of Industrial 
Designs (hereinafter ``Hague Agreement'') in title 1, and the Patent 
Law Treaty \2\ (PLT) in title 2. The Hague Agreement is an 
international agreement that enables an applicant to file a single 
international design application which may have the effect of an 
application for protection for the design(s) in countries and/or 
intergovernmental organizations that are Parties to the Hague Agreement 
(the ``Contracting Parties'') designated in the applications. The 
United States is a Contracting Party to the Hague Agreement, which took 
effect with respect to the United States on May 13, 2015. The Hague 
Agreement is administrated by the International Bureau (IB) of the 
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) located in Geneva, 
Switzerland.
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    \1\ https://www.congress.gov/112/plaws/publ211/PLAW-112publ211.pdf.
    \2\ https://wipolex.wipo.int/en/text/288773.
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    Under the Hague Agreement, U.S. applicants can file international 
design applications in English ``indirectly'' through the United States 
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), which will forward the 
applications to the IB or ``directly'' with the IB. An international 
design application is subject to the payment of three types of fees: 
(1) a basic fee, (2) a publication fee, and (3) in respect of each 
Contracting Party where protection is sought, either in a standard or 
an individual designation fee. All applications are subject to a three-
level structure of standard fees, which reflects the level of 
examination carried out by the Office of a Contracting Party. Also, an 
additional fee is required where the application contains a description 
that exceeds 100 words. In addition, a transmittal fee is required for 
international design applications filed through an office of indirect 
filing. Thus, international design applications filed through the USPTO 
as an Office of indirect filing are subject to payment of a transmittal 
fee for processing and forwarding the international design applications 
to the IB. The fees required by the IB may be paid either directly to 
the IB or through the USPTO as an office of indirect filing

[[Page 87755]]

in the amounts specified on the World Intellectual Property 
Organization website. If applicants want to pay the required fees 
through USPTO as an office of indirect filing, the fees must be paid no 
later than the date of payment of the transmittal fee. The fees will 
then be forwarded to the IB. The industrial design or designs will be 
eligible for protection in all the Contracting Parties designated by 
applicants.
    The IB ascertains whether the international design application 
complies with formal requirements, registers the international design 
to the international register, and publishes the international 
registration in the International Designs Bulletin. The international 
registration contains all of the data of the international application, 
any reproduction of the international design, date of the international 
registration, number of the international registration, and the 
relevant class of the International Classification.
    The IB will provide a copy of the publication of the international 
registration to each Contracting party designated by the application. A 
designated Contracting Party may perform a substantive examination of 
the design application. The USPTO will perform a substantive 
examination for patentability of the international design application, 
as in the case of regular U.S. design applications.
    This information collection covers all the necessary information 
required for a international design application that is filed through 
the USPTO as an Office of indirect filing and those filed directly 
through the IB. The information in this collection is used to register 
a design patent under the provisions of the Hague Agreement. The 
majority of the items are WIPO forms managed by the IB, but this 
information collection also includes two forms maintained by the USPTO.

II. Method of Collection

    The items in this information collection can either be submitted 
electronically through the USPTO patents electronic filing system or 
mailed to the USPTO.

III. Data

    OMB Control Number: 0651-0075.
    Forms: WIPO DM = WIPO Dessins et Modeles (design representations); 
PTOL = Patent Trademark Office Legal

 PTO-1595: (Recordation Form Cover Sheet)
 PTOL-85 Part B (Hague): Fee(s) Transmittal
 WIPO DM/1 (E): Application for International Registration
 WIPO DM/1/I (E): (Annex I: Oath or Declaration of the Creator 
under Rule 8(1)(a)(ii) of the Common Regulations)
 WIPO DM/1/III (E): (Annex III: Information On Eligibility For 
Protection under Rule 7(5)(g) and Section 408(d) of the Administrative 
Instructions)
 WIPO DM/1/IV (E): (Annex IV: Reduction of United States 
Individual Designation Fee under Section 408(b) of the Administrative 
Instructions)
 WIPO DM/1/V (E): (Annex V: Supporting Document(s) Concerning 
Priority Claim under Article 4 of the Paris Convention--Korean 
Intellectual Property Office (KIPO))
 WIPO DM/7 (E): Appointment of a Representative

    Two forms listed above have received OMB approval and clearance 
through other USPTO information collections. While these forms are used 
by this information collection, they are routinely approved as part of 
the other information collections. These forms are:
     PTO-1595--approved through USPTO information collection 
0651-0027 (Recording Assignments).
     PTOL-85 Part B (Hague)--approved through USPTO information 
collection 0651-0033 (Post Allowance and Refiling).
    Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved 
information collection.
    Affected Public: Private sector.
    Respondent's Obligation: Required to Obtain or Retain Benefits.
    Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 1,231 respondents.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,231 responses.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses 
in this information collection will take the public approximately 
between 15 minutes (0.25 hours) and 6 hours to complete. This includes 
the time to gather the necessary information, create the document, and 
submit the completed request to the USPTO.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 2,052 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $917,244.

                                       Table 1--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Private Sector Respondents
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                                                                                                                                             Estimated
                                           Estimated     Responses per     Estimated     Estimated time      Estimated     Rate \3\ ($/       annual
      Item No.              Item            annual        respondent        annual        for response     burden (hour/       hour)        respondent
                                          respondents                      responses         (hours)           year)                       cost  burden
                                                   (a)             (b)     (a) x (b) =  (d).............     (c) x (d) =             (f)     (e) x (f) =
                                                                                   (c)                               (e)                             (g)
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1...................  Application for              155               1             155  6...............             930            $447        $415,710
                       International
                       Registration
                       (WIPO DM/1 (E)
                       and PTO-1595).
2...................  Claim and                    155               1             155  4...............             620             447         277,140
                       Reproductions
                       (Drawings).
3...................  Transmittal                    5               1               5  2...............              10             447           4,470
                       Letter.
4...................  Appointment of a              62               1              62  0.25 (15                      16             447           7,152
                       Representative                                                    minutes).
                       (WIPO DM/7)
                       filed
                       indirectly
                       through the
                       USPTO.
5...................  Petition to                    3               1               3  4...............              12             447           5,364
                       Excuse a
                       Failure to
                       Comply with a
                       Time Limit.
6...................  Petition to                    3               1               3  4...............              12             447           5,364
                       Convert to a
                       Design
                       Application
                       under 35 U.S.C.
                       Chapter 16.
7...................  Petition to                    3               1               3  4...............              12             447           5,364
                       Review a Filing
                       Date.
8...................  Fee                           11               1              11  0.25 (15                       3             447           1,341
                       Authorization.                                                    minutes).

[[Page 87756]]

 
9...................  Petitions to the               5               1               5  4...............              20             447           8,940
                       Commissioner.
10..................  Oath or                       31               1              31  0.50 (30                      16             447           7,152
                       Declaration of                                                    minutes).
                       the Creator
                       under Rule
                       8(1)(a)(ii) of
                       the Common
                       Regulations
                       (WIPO DM/1/I
                       (E))
                       (Declaration of
                       Inventorship
                       for the
                       Designation of
                       the United
                       States of
                       America) filed
                       indirectly
                       through the
                       USPTO.
11..................  Oath or                        2               1               2  0.50 (30                       1             447             447
                       Declaration of                                                    minutes).
                       the Creator
                       under Rule
                       8(1)(a)(ii) of
                       the Common
                       Regulations
                       (WIPO DM/1/I
                       (E))
                       (Substitute
                       Statement in
                       Lieu of a
                       Declaration of
                       Inventorship
                       for the
                       Designating the
                       United States
                       of America)
                       filed
                       indirectly
                       through the
                       USPTO.
12..................  Information On                 3               1               3  1...............               3             447           1,341
                       Eligibility For
                       Protection
                       (WIPO DM/1/III
                       (E)) filed
                       indirectly
                       through the
                       USPTO.
13..................  Reduction of                   8               1               8  0.50 (30                       4             447           1,788
                       United States                                                     minutes).
                       Individual
                       Designation Fee
                       under Section
                       408(b) of the
                       Administrative
                       Instructions
                       (WIPO DM/1/IV
                       (E)) filed
                       indirectly
                       through the
                       USPTO.
14..................  Supporting                     5               1               5  0.50 (30                       3             447           1,341
                       Document(s)                                                       minutes).
                       Concerning
                       Priority Claim
                       under Article 4
                       of the Paris
                       Convention--Kor
                       ean
                       Intellectual
                       Property Office
                       (KIPO) (WIPO DM/
                       1/V (E)) filed
                       indirectly
                       through the
                       USPTO.
15..................  Fee(s)                       780               1             780  0.50 (30                     390             447         174,330
                       Transmittal to                                                    minutes).
                       USPTO for an
                       International
                       Design
                       Application
                       (PTOL-85 Part B
                       (Hague)).
                                       -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Totals..........  ................           1,231  ..............           1,231  ................           2,052  ..............         917,244
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    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden: 
$3,708,240.
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    \3\ 2023 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the 
Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American 
Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); pg. F-41. The USPTO 
uses the average billing rate for intellectual property work in all 
firms which is $447 per hour (https://www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/economic-survey).
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    There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or record-keeping costs 
associated with this information collection. However, the USPTO 
estimates that the total annual (non-hour) cost burden for this 
collection is $3,708,240, which includes $3,398,121 in filing fees, 
$310,000 in drawing costs, and $119 in postage costs.

Filing Fees

    The filing fees associated with this information collection are 
listed in the table below.

[[Page 87757]]



                                                   Table 2--Filing Fees for Private Sector Respondents
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                                                                                                             Estimated                    Total non-hour
            Item No.                       Fee code                              Item                         annual        Filing fee      cost burden
                                                                                                             responses          ($)            (yr)
                                                                                                                     (a)             (b)     (a) x (b) =
                                                                                                                                                     (c)
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1..............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration             157          $2,131        $334,567
                                                               (electronic)--Average Fee per
                                                               registration to WIPO (USPTO collects and
                                                               transmits it to WIPO).
1..............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration              10             960           9,600
                                                               (electronic)--Designation Fee (first
                                                               part) for the U.S. (collecting for WIPO)
                                                               (undiscounted entity).
1..............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration              11             480           5,280
                                                               (electronic)--Designation Fee (first
                                                               part) for the U.S. (collecting for WIPO)
                                                               (small entity).
1..............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration               6             240           1,440
                                                               (electronic)--Designation Fee (first
                                                               part) for the U.S. (collecting for WIPO)
                                                               (micro entity).
1..............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration           1,651             960       1,584,960
                                                               submitted to WIPO--Designation Fee (first
                                                               part) for the U.S. (Transmitting to the
                                                               USPTO by WIPO) (undiscounted entity).
1..............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration             527             480         252,960
                                                               submitted to WIPO--Designation Fee (first
                                                               part) for the U.S. (Transmitting to the
                                                               USPTO by WIPO) (small entity).
1..............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration             138             240          33,120
                                                               submitted to WIPO--Designation Fee (first
                                                               part) for the U.S. (Transmitting to the
                                                               USPTO by WIPO) (micro entity).
1..............................  1781.......................  Application for International Registration              62             120           7,440
                                                               (electronic)--Transmittal Fee (set by and
                                                               collected by USPTO) (undiscounted entity).
1..............................  2781.......................  Application for International Registration              85              48           4,080
                                                               (electronic)--Transmittal Fee (set by and
                                                               collected by USPTO) (small entity).
1..............................  3781.......................  Application for International Registration              18              24             432
                                                               (electronic)--Transmittal Fee (set by and
                                                               collected by USPTO) (micro entity).
5..............................  1784.......................  Petition to Excuse a Failure to Comply                   1           2,100           2,100
                                                               with a Time Limit (undiscounted entity).
5..............................  2784.......................  Petition to Excuse a Failure to Comply                   1             840             840
                                                               with a Time Limit (small entity).
5..............................  3784.......................  Petition to Excuse a Failure to Comply                   1             420             420
                                                               with a Time Limit (micro entity).
6..............................  1783.......................  Petition to Convert to a Design                          1             180             180
                                                               Application under 35 U.S.C. Chapter 16
                                                               (undiscounted entity).
6..............................  2783.......................  Petition to Convert to a Design                          1              72              72
                                                               Application under 35 U.S.C. Chapter 16
                                                               (small entity).
6..............................  3783.......................  Petition to Convert to a Design                          1              36              36
                                                               Application under 35 U.S.C. Chapter 16
                                                               (micro entity).
7..............................  1462.......................  Petition to Review a Filing Date                         1             420             420
                                                               (undiscounted entity).
7..............................  2462.......................  Petition to Review a Filing Date (small                  1             168             168
                                                               entity).
7..............................  3462.......................  Petition to Review a Filing Date (micro                  1              84              84
                                                               entity).
9..............................  1462.......................  Petitions to Commissioner (undiscounted                  1             420             420
                                                               entity).
9..............................  2462.......................  Petitions to Commissioner (small entity)..               2             168             336
9..............................  3462.......................  Petitions to Commissioner (micro entity)..               1              84              84
15.............................  1509.......................  Issue Fee Transmittal to USPTO for an                  972             740         719,280
                                                               International Design Application
                                                               (undiscounted entity).
15.............................  2509.......................  Issue Fee Transmittal to USPTO for an                  247             296          73,112
                                                               International Design Application (small
                                                               entity).
15.............................  3509.......................  Issue Fee Transmittal to USPTO for an                   30             148           4,440
                                                               International Design Application (micro
                                                               entity).
15.............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration             420             700         294,000
                                                               submitted to WIPO--Issue Fee (Second
                                                               part) for the U.S. (Transmitting to the
                                                               USPTO by WIPO) (undiscounted entity).
15.............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration             155             350          54,250
                                                               submitted to WIPO--Issue Fee (Second
                                                               part) for the U.S. (Transmitting to the
                                                               USPTO by WIPO) (small entity).
15.............................  WIPO.......................  Application for International Registration              80             175          14,000
                                                               submitted to WIPO--Issue Fee (Second
                                                               part) for the U.S. (Transmitting to the
                                                               USPTO by WIPO) (micro-entity).
                                                                                                         -----------------------------------------------
    Totals.....................                                                                                    4,582  ..............      $3,398,121
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Drawing Costs

    The USPTO estimates that the costs to produce design drawings can 
range from $50 to $350 per sheet. Taking the average of this range, the 
USPTO estimates that it can cost $200 per sheet to produce design 
drawings. On average, 10 sheets of drawings are submitted for an 
application resulting in an average cost of $2,000 to produce the 
design drawings. The USPTO estimates that 155 respondents will file 
international design applications. Overall, the costs associated with 
submitting these drawings are estimated to be $310,000.

Postage Costs

    Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this information 
collection be submitted electronically, responses may be submitted by 
mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPTO 
estimates that 1% of the 1,231 items in this information collection 
will be submitted by mail, resulting in 12 mailed items. The USPTO 
estimates that the average postage cost for a mailed submission, using 
a Priority Mail legal flat rate envelope, will be $9.95. Therefore, the 
USPTO estimates the total mailing costs for this information collection 
at $119.

IV. Request for Comments

    The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
    (a) Evaluate whether the 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 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

[[Page 87758]]

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) 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.

Justin Isaac,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative 
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2023-27844 Filed 12-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P