[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 110 (Thursday, June 6, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48399-48400]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12429]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No.: PTO-P-2023-0043]


Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions

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

ACTION: Examination guidance; reopening of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is 
reopening the comment period, which ended on May 13, 2024, for the 
guidance titled ``Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions'' 
that was published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2024.

DATES: The comment period for the guidance published on February 13, 
2024, at 89 FR 10043, is reopened until June 20, 2024. Written comments 
must be received on or before June 20, 2024. The USPTO will also treat 
as timely any comments received between May 13, 2024, and the 
publication date of this notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments must be submitted through the Federal eRulemaking 
Portal at www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the portal, enter 
docket number PTO-P-2023-0043 on the homepage and select ``Search.'' 
The site will provide a search results page listing all documents 
associated with this docket. Find a reference to this document and 
select the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter or 
attach your comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in Adobe[supreg] portable document format (PDF) and Microsoft 
Word[supreg] format. Because comments will be made available for public 
inspection, information the submitter does not desire to make public, 
such as an address or phone number, should not be included in the 
comments.
    Visit the Federal eRulemaking Portal for additional instructions on 
providing comments via the portal. If electronic submission of comments 
is not feasible due to a lack of access to a computer and/or the 
internet, please contact the

[[Page 48400]]

USPTO using the contact information at the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 
CONTACT section for special instructions.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Sked, Senior Legal Advisor, at 
571-272-7627; or Nalini Mummalaneni, Senior Legal Advisor, at 571-270-
1647, both with the Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of 
the Deputy Commissioner for Patents.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 13, 2024, the USPTO published 
guidance titled ``Inventorship Guidance for AI-Assisted Inventions,'' 
to provide clarity for USPTO stakeholders and personnel, including the 
Central Reexamination Unit and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, on 
how the USPTO will analyze inventorship issues now that artificial 
intelligence (AI) systems, including generative AI, are playing a 
greater role in the innovation process (89 FR 10043, February 13, 
2024). After the comment period for the guidance closed, the USPTO 
became aware of some continued stakeholder interest in submitting 
comments on the guidance. Therefore, the USPTO is reopening the written 
comment period for the guidance to ensure that all stakeholders have a 
sufficient opportunity to submit comments. The USPTO will also treat as 
timely any comments received between the original comment period 
deadline of May 13, 2024, and the publication date of this notice.

Katherine K. Vidal,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-12429 Filed 6-5-24; 8:45 am]
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