[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 203 (Thursday, October 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48505-48507]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-19644]
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Notices
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains documents other than rules
or proposed rules that are applicable to the public. Notices of hearings
and investigations, committee meetings, agency decisions and rulings,
delegations of authority, filing of petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are examples of documents
appearing in this section.
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Federal Register / Vol. 90, No. 203 / Thursday, October 23, 2025 /
Notices
[[Page 48505]]
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Post Allowance and Reissue
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter
``USPTO'' or ``Agency''), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing
information collection: 0651-0033 (Post Allowance and Reissue). The
purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comments
preceding submission of the information collection to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB).
DATES: To ensure consideration, you must submit comments regarding this
information collection on or before December 22, 2025.
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-
0033 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: 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.
Telephone: Raul Tamayo, Senior Legal Advisor, 571-272-
7728.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Raul Tamayo, Senior Legal Advisor at: United
States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
22313-1450; 571-272-7728; or [email protected] with ``0651-0033
comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about this
information collection is also available at www.reginfo.gov under
``Information Collection Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
This collection of information covers the submission of issue fee
payments, requests for certificates of correction, and reissue patent
applications to the USPTO.
Issue Fee Payments
The USPTO is required by 35 U.S.C. 131 and 151 to examine patent
applications and, when appropriate, allow patent applications and issue
them as patents. When an application for a patent is allowed by the
USPTO, the USPTO issues a notice of allowance and the applicant must
pay the specified issue fee within three months to avoid abandonment of
the application. If the appropriate fees are paid within the proper
time period, the USPTO can then issue the patent. The rules outlining
the procedure or payment of the issue fee and issuance of a patent are
found at 37 CFR 1.18, 1.311, and 1.314.
Requests for Certificates of Correction and Reissue Patent Applications
This collection of information also covers several transactions
that may be taken after the issuance of a patent. Pursuant to 35 U.S.C.
254 and 255, a certificate of correction may be requested to correct an
error or errors of an issued patent. If the USPTO determines that the
request should be approved, the USPTO will issue a certificate of
correction.
For an original patent that is believed to be wholly or partly
inoperative or invalid, the original patentee, or the current patent
owner if there has been a subsequent assignment, may apply for the
reissue of the patent pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 251. The reissue patent
application process requires, among other items, an oath or declaration
specifically identifying at least one error being relied upon as the
basis for reissue and stating the reason for the belief that the
original patent is wholly or partly inoperative or invalid (e.g., a
defective specification or drawing, or claiming more or less than the
patentee had the right to claim in the patent). The rules outlining
reissue application procedures are found at 37 CFR 1.171-1.173 and
1.175-1.178.
II. Method of Collection
The USPTO prefers that the items in this information collection be
submitted electronically via the USPTO patent electronic filing system
(Patent Center). Respondents may also submit the information in paper
form by mail, or by hand delivery to the USPTO.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0651-0033.
Forms: (AIA = America Invents Act; SB = Specimen Book; PTOL =
Patent Trademark Official Legal Forms):
PTO/AIA/05 (Reissue Application Declaration by the Inventor)
PTO/AIA/06 (Reissue Application Declaration by the Assignee)
PTO/AIA/07 (Substitute Statement in Lieu of an Oath or
Declaration for Reissue Patent Application (35 U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR
1.64)
PTO/AIA/50 (Reissue Patent Application Transmittal)
PTO/AIA/53 (Reissue Application: Consent of Assignee;
Statement of Non-Assignment)
PTO/SB/44 (Certificate of Correction)
PTO/SB/51 (Reissue Application Declaration by the Inventor)
PTO/SB/51S (Supplemental Declaration for Reissue Patent
Application to Correct ``Errors'' Statement (37 CFR 1.175)
PTO/SB/52 (Reissue Application Declaration by the Assignee)
PTO/SB/53 (Reissue Application: Consent of Assignee; Statement
of Non-Assignment)
PTO/SB/56 (Reissue Application Fee Transmittal Form)
PTOL-85B (Part B--Fee(s) Transmittal)
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.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 473,710 respondents.
[[Page 48506]]
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 473,710 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses
in this information collection will take the public approximately 30
minutes (0.50 hours) to 5.30 hours to complete. This includes the time
to gather the necessary information, create the document, and submit
the completed item(s) to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 392,186 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $175,307,142.
Table 1--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Private Sector Respondents
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Estimated Responses Estimated annual
Item No. Item annual per Estimated annual Estimated time for Estimated burden Rate \1\ ($/ respondent cost
respondents respondent responses response (hours) (hour/year) hour) burden
(a) (b) (a) x (b) = (c) (d)..................... (c) x (d) = (e) (f) (e) x (f) = (g)
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1......... Certificate of 21,000 1 21,000 1.30 (80 minutes)....... 27,300 447 $12,203,100
Correction.
2......... Petition to 450 1 450 0.80 (46 minutes)....... 360 447 160,920
Correct Assignee
After Payment of
Issue Fee (37
CFR Sec.
3.81(b)).
3......... Reissue 780 1 780 5.30 (318 minutes)...... 4,134 447 1,847,898
Documentation.
4......... Reissue Patent 780 1 780 0.50 (30 minutes)....... 390 447 174,330
Application
Transmittal.
5......... Reissue Patent 1,450 1 1,450 0.80 (46 minutes)....... 1,160 447 518,520
Application
Declaration by
the Inventor or
the Assignee or
Substitute
Statement in
Lieu of an Oath
or Declaration
for Reissue
Patent
Application (35
U.S.C. Sec.
115(d) and 37
CFR Sec. 1.64).
6......... Supplemental 55 1 55 0.60 (36 minutes)....... 33 447 14,751
Declaration for
Reissue Patent
Application to
Correct
``Errors''
Statement (37
CFR Sec.
1.175).
7......... Reissue 1,045 1 1,045 0.50 (30 minutes)....... 523 447 233,781
Application:
Consent of
Assignee:
Statement of Non-
assignment.
8......... Reissue Patent 780 1 780 0.50 (30 minutes)....... 390 447 174,330
Application Fee
Transmittal.
9......... Issue Fee 447,370 1 447,370 0.80 (46 minutes)....... 357,896 447 159,979,512
Transmittal.
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Totals........ 473,710 ........... 473,710 ........................ 392,186 ........... 175,307,142
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\1\ 2023 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property Law Association;
pg. F-41. The USPTO uses the average billing rate for intellectual property work in all firms, which is $447 per hour (www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/economic-survey).
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden:
$477,303,798. There are no capital start-up costs, maintenance costs,
or recordkeeping costs associated with this information collection.
However, the USPTO estimates that the total annual non-hourly cost
burden for this information collection, in the form of filing fees
($477,279,160) and postage ($24,638), is $477,303,798.
Filing Fees
There are 13 filing fees associated with this information
collection. The filing fees are detailed by entity size status and
listed in the table below.
Table 2--Filing Fees
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Estimated
Item No. Fee code Item annual Filing Non-hourly cost
responses fee ($) burden
(a) (b) (a) x (b) = (c)
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1................. 1811................... Certificate of correction 5,700 172 $980,400
(Undiscounted entity).
1................. 2811................... Certificate of correction 2,120 172 364,640
(Small entity).
1................. 3811................... Certificate of correction 75 172 12,900
(Micro entity).
1................. 1816................... Processing fee for 400 172 68,800
correcting inventorship
in a patent
(Undiscounted entity).
1................. 2816................... Processing fee for 200 172 34,400
correcting inventorship
in a patent (Small
entity).
1................. 3816................... Processing fee for 20 172 3,440
correcting inventorship
in a patent (Micro
entity).
3................. 1014................... Basic filing fee--Reissue 460 350 161,000
(Undiscounted entity).
3................. 2014................... Basic filing fee--Reissue 155 140 21,700
(Small entity).
3................. 3014................... Basic filing fee--Reissue 20 70 1,400
(Micro entity).
[[Page 48507]]
3................. 1019................... Basic Filing Fee--Reissue 1 350 350
(Design CPA)
(Undiscounted entity).
3................. 2019................... Basic Filing Fee--Reissue 1 140 140
(Design CPA) (Small
entity).
3................. 3019................... Basic Filing Fee--Reissue 1 70 70
(Design CPA) (Micro
entity).
3................. 1114................... Reissue Search Fee or 450 770 346,500
Reissue Design CPA
Search Fee (Undiscounted
entity).
3................. 2114................... Reissue Search Fee or 155 308 47,740
Reissue Design CPA
Search Fee (Small
entity).
3................. 3114................... Reissue Patent Search Fee 15 154 2,310
or Reissue Design CPA
Search Fee (Micro
entity).
3................. 1204................... Reissue patent 255 600 153,000
independent claims in
excess of three
(Undiscounted entity).
3................. 2204................... Reissue patent 100 240 24,000
independent claims in
excess of three (Small
entity).
3................. 3204................... Reissue patent 10 120 1,200
independent claims in
excess of three (Micro
entity).
3................. 1205................... Reissue claims in excess 2,150 200 430,000
of 20 (Undiscounted
entity).
3................. 2205................... Reissue patent claims in 830 80 66,400
excess of 20 (Small
entity).
3................. 3205................... Reissue patent claims in 30 40 1,200
excess of 20 (Micro
entity).
3, 4.............. 1084................... Reissue Patent 30 450 13,500
Application Size Fee--
for each additional 50
sheets that exceeds 100
sheets (Undiscounted
entity).
3, 4.............. 2084................... Reissue Patent 10 180 1,800
Application Size Fee--
for each additional 50
sheets that exceeds 100
sheets (Small entity).
3, 4.............. 3084................... Reissue Patent 1 90 90
Application Size Fee--
for each additional 50
sheets that exceeds 100
sheets (Micro entity).
3................. 1314................... Reissue Patent 450 2,550 1,147,500
Examination Fee or
Reissue Design CPA
Examination Fee
(Undiscounted entity).
3................. 2314................... Reissue Patent 155 1,020 158,100
Examination Fee or
Reissue Design CPA
Examination Fee (Small
entity).
3................. 3314................... Reissue Patent 20 510 10,200
Examination Fee or
Reissue Design CPA
Examination Fee (Micro
entity).
9................. 1501................... Utility issue fee 300,000 1,290 387,000,000
(Undiscounted entity).
9................. 2501................... Utility issue fee (Small 87,000 516 44,892,000
entity).
9................. 3501................... Utility issue fee (Micro 8,750 258 2,257,500
entity).
9................. 1502................... Design issue fee 19,500 1,300 25,350,000
(Undiscounted entity).
9................. 2502................... Design issue fee (Small 17,900 520 9,308,000
entity).
9................. 3502................... Design issue fee (Micro 13,000 260 3,380,000
entity).
9................. 1503................... Plant issue fee 375 905 339,375
(Undiscounted entity).
9................. 2503................... Plant issue fee (Small 320 361 115,520
entity).
9................. 3503................... Plant issue fee (Micro 5 181 905
entity).
9................. 1511................... Reissue issue fee 410 1,290 528,900
(Undiscounted entity).
9................. 2511................... Reissue issue fee (Small 100 516 51,600
entity).
9................. 3511................... Reissue issue fee (Micro 10 258 2,580
entity).
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Totals.............. ......................... 461,184 ........ 477,279,160
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Postage Costs
While 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. The USPTO estimates that
0.50% of the 473,710 items will be submitted in the mail, resulting in
2,369 mailed items. The USPTO estimates that the average postage cost
for a mailed submission, using a Priority Mail legal flat rate
envelope, is $10.40. Therefore, the USPTO estimates the total mailing
costs for this information collection at $24,638.
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 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 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 a comment to withhold PII from public view, the
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. 2025-19644 Filed 10-22-25; 8:45 am]
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