80 FR 26914 - Extension of the Period for Comments on Enhancing Patent Quality

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 90 (May 11, 2015)

Page Range		26914-26915
FR Document		2015-11318

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently launched a comprehensive and enhanced quality initiative. This initiative began with a request for public comments on a set of proposals for enhancing patent quality through submission of written comments. Public input on this initiative was also received through discussion at a two-day ``Quality Summit,'' held on March 25 and 26, 2015, at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The USPTO is extending the comment period to ensure that all stakeholders have sufficient opportunity to submit comments on its new enhanced quality initiative.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 90 (Monday, May 11, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26914-26915]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11318]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-P-2015-0031]


Extension of the Period for Comments on Enhancing Patent Quality

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently 
launched a comprehensive and enhanced quality initiative. This 
initiative began with a request for public comments on a set of 
proposals for enhancing patent quality through submission of written 
comments. Public input on this initiative was also received through 
discussion at a two-day ``Quality Summit,'' held on March 25 and 26, 
2015, at the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. The USPTO is 
extending the comment period to ensure that all stakeholders have 
sufficient opportunity to submit comments on its new enhanced quality 
initiative.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, written comments must be 
received on or before May 20, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by electronic mail message 
over the Internet addressed to: WorldClassPatentQuality@uspto.gov. 
Comments may also be submitted by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop 
Comments--Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22313-1450, marked to the attention of Michael Cygan, Senior 
Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the 
Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy.
    Although comments may be submitted by postal mail, the USPTO 
prefers to receive comments by electronic mail message over the 
Internet in order to facilitate sharing the received comments with the 
public. Electronic comments are preferred to be submitted in plain 
text, but also may be submitted in ADOBE[supreg] portable document 
format or MICROSOFT[supreg] WORD format. Comments not submitted 
electronically should be submitted on paper in a format that 
facilitates convenient digital scanning into ADOBE[supreg] portable 
document format.
    The comments will be available for public inspection at the Office 
of the Commissioner for Patents, currently located in Madison East, 
Tenth Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia. Comments also 
will be available for viewing via the USPTO's Internet Web site (http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/enhanced-patent-quality-initiative.html). Because comments will be made available for public 
inspection, information that the submitter does not desire to make 
public, such as an address or phone number, should not be included in 
the comments. It would be helpful to the USPTO if written comments 
included information about: (1) The name and affiliation of the 
individual responding; and (2) an indication of whether comments 
offered represent views of the respondent's organization or are the 
respondent's personal views.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael T. Cygan, Senior Legal 
Advisor, at (571) 272-7700; Maria Nuzzolillo, Legal Advisor, at (571) 
272-8150; or Jeffrey R. West, Legal Advisor, at (571) 272-2226.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO is extending the period for public 
comment on its Enhanced Patent Quality Initiative. The USPTO launched a 
comprehensive and enhanced quality initiative beginning with a request 
for public comments on a set of six proposals outlined in a Federal 
Register Notice, Request for Comments on Enhancing Patent Quality, 80 
FR 6475 (Feb. 5, 2015). The new enhanced quality initiative continued 
with a two-

[[Page 26915]]

day ``Quality Summit'' with the public to discuss the outlined 
proposals, which was held on March 25 and 26, 2015, at the USPTO 
headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
    In view of the substantial public interest in this initiative, the 
number and complexity of the issues involved, and requests from the 
public for an extension of the time to submit comments, the USPTO is 
now extending the period for submission of public comments until May 
20, 2015.
    Members of the public are invited to submit written comments that 
address the proposals outlined in the February 5, 2015, Federal 
Register Notice or that provide input on other programs or initiatives 
not reflected in the proposals that the public believes may enhance 
patent quality. Based upon the stakeholder feedback received, the USPTO 
plans to refine the proposals as needed and to continue its engagement 
with the public about these proposals through a series of additional 
events. Through such continued engagement with the public, the USPTO 
can take the correct next steps in its continued efforts toward 
enhancing patent quality.

    Dated: May 5, 2015.
Michelle K. Lee,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-11318 Filed 5-8-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P

26914 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 90 / Monday, May 11, 2015 / Notices

References SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The the Internet addressed to:
Federal Government’s rights in this WorldClassPatentQuality@uspto.gov.
A complete list of the references used
invention are assigned to the United Comments may also be submitted by
in this proposed rule is available upon
States of America, as represented by the postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop
request (see ADDRESSES).
Secretary of Commerce. It is in the Comments—Patents, Commissioner for
Classification public interest to so license this Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
invention, as Handix, LLC of Boulder, Virginia 22313–1450, marked to the
National Environmental Policy Act
Colorado, has submitted a complete and attention of Michael Cygan, Senior Legal
The 1982 amendments to the ESA, in sufficient application for a license. The Advisor, Office of Patent Legal
section 4(b)(1)(A), restrict the prospective exclusive license will be Administration, Office of the Deputy
information that may be considered royalty-bearing and will comply with Commissioner for Patent Examination
when assessing species for listing. Based the terms and conditions of 35 U.S.C. Policy.
on this limitation of criteria for a listing 209 and 37 CFR 404.7. The prospective Although comments may be
decision and the opinion in Pacific exclusive license may be granted unless, submitted by postal mail, the USPTO
Legal Foundation v. Andrus, 675 F. 2d within thirty (30) days from the date of prefers to receive comments by
825 (6th Cir. 1981), NMFS has this published Notice, the NOAA electronic mail message over the
concluded that ESA listing actions are Technology Partnerships Office receives Internet in order to facilitate sharing the
not subject to the environmental written evidence and argument which received comments with the public.
assessment requirements of the National establishes the grant of the license Electronic comments are preferred to be
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (See would not be consistent with the submitted in plain text, but also may be
NOAA Administrative Order 216–6). requirements of 35 U.S.C. 209 and 37 submitted in ADOBE® portable
Authority CFR 404.7. document format or MICROSOFT®
Dated: May 4, 2015. WORD format. Comments not submitted
The authority for this action is the electronically should be submitted on
Jason Donaldson,
Endangered Species Act of 1973, as paper in a format that facilitates
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). Chief Financial Officer, Office of Oceanic and
convenient digital scanning into
Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and
Dated: May 5, 2015. Atmospheric Administration. ADOBE® portable document format.
Samuel D. Rauch III, The comments will be available for
[FR Doc. 2015–11131 Filed 5–8–15; 8:45 am]
Deputy Assistant Administrator for
public inspection at the Office of the
BILLING CODE 3510–KD–P
Regulatory Programs, National Marine Commissioner for Patents, currently
Fisheries Service. located in Madison East, Tenth Floor,
[FR Doc. 2015–11305 Filed 5–8–15; 8:45 am] DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia.
Comments also will be available for
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
United States Patent and Trademark viewing via the USPTO’s Internet Web
Office site (http://www.uspto.gov/patent/
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE initiatives/enhanced-patent-quality-
[Docket No. PTO–P–2015–0031] initiative.html). Because comments will
National Oceanic and Atmospheric be made available for public inspection,
Extension of the Period for Comments
Administration information that the submitter does not
on Enhancing Patent Quality
desire to make public, such as an
Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive AGENCY: United States Patent and address or phone number, should not be
License Trademark Office, Commerce. included in the comments. It would be
ACTION: Extension of the comment helpful to the USPTO if written
AGENCY: National Oceanic and
period. comments included information about:
Atmospheric Administration, NOAA,
(1) The name and affiliation of the
Department of Commerce DOC. SUMMARY: The United States Patent and individual responding; and (2) an
ACTION: Notice of intent. Trademark Office (USPTO) recently indication of whether comments offered
launched a comprehensive and represent views of the respondent’s
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that enhanced quality initiative. This organization or are the respondent’s
the U.S. Department of Commerce, initiative began with a request for public personal views.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric comments on a set of proposals for FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Administration (NOAA), intends to enhancing patent quality through
grant to Handix, LLC of Boulder, Michael T. Cygan, Senior Legal Advisor,
submission of written comments. Public at (571) 272–7700; Maria Nuzzolillo,
Colorado, an exclusive global license to input on this initiative was also
manufacture and distribute its Legal Advisor, at (571) 272–8150; or
received through discussion at a two- Jeffrey R. West, Legal Advisor, at (571)
‘‘PRINTED OPTICAL SPECTROMETER day ‘‘Quality Summit,’’ held on March
(POPS), and its ‘‘PORTABLE AEROSOL 272–2226.
25 and 26, 2015, at the USPTO SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
GENERATOR’’. headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia. USPTO is extending the period for
DATES: Comments must be received on The USPTO is extending the comment public comment on its Enhanced Patent
or before June 5, 2015. period to ensure that all stakeholders Quality Initiative. The USPTO launched
ADDRESSES: Send comments to NOAA have sufficient opportunity to submit a comprehensive and enhanced quality
Technology Partnerships Office, SSMC4 comments on its new enhanced quality
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

initiative beginning with a request for
Room 7605, 1305 East West Highway, initiative. public comments on a set of six
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. DATES: To be assured of consideration, proposals outlined in a Federal Register
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: written comments must be received on Notice, Request for Comments on
Derek Parks, NOAA Technology or before May 20, 2015. Enhancing Patent Quality, 80 FR 6475
Transfer Program Manager, at: ADDRESSES: Written comments should (Feb. 5, 2015). The new enhanced
derek.parks@noaa.gov. be sent by electronic mail message over quality initiative continued with a two-

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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 90 / Monday, May 11, 2015 / Notices 26915

day ‘‘Quality Summit’’ with the public or via postal mail, commercial delivery, Respondents/Affected Public:
to discuss the outlined proposals, which or hand delivery. If the regulations.gov Individuals or Households.
was held on March 25 and 26, 2015, at site is not available to the public for any Total Estimated Number of Annual
the USPTO headquarters in Alexandria, reason, ED will temporarily accept Responses: 88.
Virginia. comments at ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Total Estimated Number of Annual
In view of the substantial public Please note that comments submitted by Burden Hours: 22.
interest in this initiative, the number fax or email and those submitted after Abstract: The Office of Career,
and complexity of the issues involved, the comment period will not be Technical, and Adult Education in the
and requests from the public for an accepted; ED will ONLY accept U.S. Department of Education is
extension of the time to submit comments during the comment period supporting an evaluation that will
comments, the USPTO is now extending in this mailbox when the regulations.gov examine the impact of a college and
the period for submission of public site is not available. Written requests for career preparation curriculum for
comments until May 20, 2015. information or comments submitted by students in the 11th and 12th grades on
Members of the public are invited to postal mail or delivery should be students’ college and career aspirations,
submit written comments that address addressed to the Director of the planning for postsecondary transitions
the proposals outlined in the February Information Collection Clearance and adult life, and attitudes toward
5, 2015, Federal Register Notice or that Division, U.S. Department of Education, education and careers. The evaluation
provide input on other programs or 400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, has an experimental design with school-
initiatives not reflected in the proposals Mailstop L–OM–2–2E319, Room 2E115, level random assignment; this
that the public believes may enhance Washington, DC 20202. Information Collection Request includes
patent quality. Based upon the surveys of students, instructors, and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For principals and protocols for site visits.
stakeholder feedback received, the
specific questions related to collection
USPTO plans to refine the proposals as Dated: May 5, 2015.
activities, please contact Braden Goetz,
needed and to continue its engagement Tomakie Washington,
202–245–7405.
with the public about these proposals
Acting Director, Information Collection
through a series of additional events. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Through such continued engagement Department of Education (ED), in Officer, Office of Management.
with the public, the USPTO can take the accordance with the Paperwork
[FR Doc. 2015–11287 Filed 5–8–15; 8:45 am]
correct next steps in its continued Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C.
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
efforts toward enhancing patent quality. 3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general
Dated: May 5, 2015.
public and Federal agencies with an
opportunity to comment on proposed,
Michelle K. Lee, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
revised, and continuing collections of
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual information. This helps the Department
Property and Director of the United States Federal Energy Regulatory
assess the impact of its information
Patent and Trademark Office. Commission
collection requirements and minimize
[FR Doc. 2015–11318 Filed 5–8–15; 8:45 am]
the public’s reporting burden. It also Combined Notice of Filings #1
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
helps the public understand the
Department’s information collection Take notice that the Commission
requirements and provide the requested received the following electric corporate
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION data in the desired format. ED is filings:
[Docket No.: ED–2015–ICCD–0023] soliciting comments on the proposed Docket Numbers: EC15–66–000.
information collection request (ICR) that Applicants: Osage Wind, LLC.
Agency Information Collection is described below. The Department of Description: Supplement to January
Activities; Submission to the Office of Education is especially interested in 29, 2015 Application for Authorization
Management and Budget for Review public comment addressing the Under Section 203 of the Federal Power
and Approval; Comment Request; following issues: (1) Is this collection Act, Request for Expedited
Roads to Success in North Dakota: A necessary to the proper functions of the Consideration and Confidential
Randomized Study of a College and Department; (2) will this information be Treatment of Osage Wind, LLC.
Career Preparation Curriculum processed and used in a timely manner; Filed Date: 4/27/15.
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; Accession Number: 20150427–5553.
AGENCY: Office of Career, Technical and Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/7/15.
(4) how might the Department enhance
Adult Education (OCTAE), Department Docket Numbers: EC15–130–000.
the quality, utility, and clarity of the
of Education (ED). Applicants: CPV Maryland, LLC, MC
information to be collected; and (5) how
ACTION: Notice. St. Charles LLC, OG St. Charles LLC,
might the Department minimize the
burden of this collection on the Osaka Gas USA Corporation.
SUMMARY: In accordance with the Description: Application for
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 respondents, including through the use
of information technology. Please note Authorization under Section 203 of the
U.S.C. chapter 3501 et seq.), ED is Federal Power Act and Request for
proposing a new information collection. that written comments received in
response to this notice will be Waivers, Request for Confidential
DATES: Interested persons are invited to Treatment, and Request for Expedited
submit comments on or before June 10, considered public records.
Consideration of CPV Maryland, LLC,
Title of Collection: Roads to Success
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

2015. et. al.
ADDRESSES: Comments submitted in in North Dakota: A Randomized Study Filed Date: 4/27/15.
response to this notice should be of a College and Career Preparation Accession Number: 20150427–5551.
submitted electronically through the Curriculum. Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 5/18/15.
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// OMB Control Number: 1830–NEW. Take notice that the Commission
www.regulations.gov by selecting Type of Review: A new information received the following exempt
Docket ID number ED–2015–ICCD–0023 collection. wholesale generator filings:

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Document Created: 2018-02-21 10:25:53
Document Modified: 2018-02-21 10:25:53

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Extension of the comment period.
Dates		To be assured of consideration, written comments must be received on or before May 20, 2015.
Contact		Michael T. Cygan, Senior Legal Advisor, at (571) 272-7700; Maria Nuzzolillo, Legal Advisor, at (571) 272-8150; or Jeffrey R. West, Legal Advisor, at (571) 272-2226.
FR Citation		80 FR 26914

80 FR 26914 - Extension of the Period for Comments on Enhancing Patent Quality

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEUnited States Patent and Trademark Office

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 90 (May 11, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office