80 FR 34901 - Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 117 (June 18, 2015)
Patent and Trademark Office
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 117 (June 18, 2015)
| Page Range | 34901-34902 | |
| FR Document | 2015-15071 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 117 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 34901-34902] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-15071] [[Page 34901]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO-C-2015-0035] Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the ``Act''), Public Law 106-113, which, among other things, established two Public Advisory Committees to review the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, and to advise the Director on these matters (now codified at 35 U.S.C. 5). The America Invents Act Technical Corrections Act made several amendments to the 1999 Act, including the requirement that the terms of the USPTO Public Advisory Committee members be realigned by 2014, so that December 1 be used as the start and end date, with terms staggered so that each year three existing terms expire and three new terms begin on December 1. Through this Notice, the USPTO is requesting nominations for up to three (3) members of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and for up to three (3) members of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, for terms of three years that begin on December 1, 2015. DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before July 25, 2015. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations should send the nominee's resum[eacute] by postal mail to Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia, 22313-1450 or by electronic mail to: [email protected] for the Patent Public Advisory Committee, or [email protected] for the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272-8600. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committees' duties include:Review and advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on matters relating to policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the USPTO relating to patents and trademarks, respectively; and Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year: (1) Prepare an annual report on matters listed above; (2) transmit the report to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and (3) publish the report in the Official Gazette of the USPTO. Advisory Committees The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine (9) voting members who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (the ``Secretary'') and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for three- year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment for a second consecutive three-year term. The Public Advisory Committee members must be citizens of the United States and are chosen to represent the interests of diverse users of the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. Members must represent small and large entity applicants located in the United States in proportion to the number of applications filed by such applicants. The Committees must include individuals with ``substantial background and achievement in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and office automation.'' 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public Advisory Committees also includes three (3) non-voting members representing each labor organization recognized by the USPTO. Administration policy discourages the appointment of federally registered lobbyists to agency advisory boards and commissions (Lobbyists on Agency Boards and Commissions, http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/lobbyist-agency-boards-and-commissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. Order No. 13490, 74 FR 4673 (January 21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 does not specifically apply to federally registered lobbyists appointed by agency or department heads, it sets forth the Administration's general policy of decreasing the influence of special interests in the Federal Government). Procedures and Guidelines of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Each newly appointed member of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will serve for a three-year term that begins on December 1, 2015, and ends on December 1, 2018. As required by the 1999 Act, members of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will receive compensation for each day (including travel time) while the member is attending meetings or engaged in the business of that Advisory Committee. The enabling statute states that members are to be compensated at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of Title 5, United States Code. Committee members are compensated on an hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While away from home or regular place of business, each member shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by Section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code. Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws Public Advisory Committee Members are Special Government Employees within the meaning of Section 202 of Title 18, United States Code. The following additional information includes several, but not all, of the ethics rules that apply to members, and assumes that members are not engaged in Public Advisory Committee business more than 60 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. Each member will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure form within thirty (30) days of appointment. 5 CFR 2634.202(c), 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b). Each member will be subject to many of the public integrity laws, including criminal bars against representing a party in a particular matter that came before the member's committee and that involved at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. A member also must not act on a matter in which the member (or any of certain closely related entities) has a financial interest. 18 U.S.C. 208. Representation of foreign interests may also raise issues. 35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. 219. Meetings of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Meetings of each Advisory Committee will take place at the call of the respective Committee Chair to consider [[Page 34902]] an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings may be conducted in person, telephonically, on-line through the Internet, or by other appropriate means. The meetings of each Advisory Committee will be open to the public except each Advisory Committee may, by majority vote, meet in executive session when considering personnel, privileged, or other confidential information. Nominees must have the ability to participate in Committee business through the Internet. Dated: June 10, 2015. Michelle K. Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2015-15071 Filed 6-17-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Notices 34901
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Procedures and Guidelines of the
Advisory Committees’ duties include: Patent and Trademark Public Advisory
Patent and Trademark Office • Review and advise the Under Committees
[Docket No. PTO–C–2015–0035] Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Each newly appointed member of the
Property and Director of the USPTO on Patent and Trademark Public Advisory
Patent and Trademark Public Advisory matters relating to policies, goals, Committees will serve for a three-year
Committees performance, budget, and user fees of term that begins on December 1, 2015,
AGENCY: United States Patent and the USPTO relating to patents and and ends on December 1, 2018. As
Trademark Office, Commerce. trademarks, respectively; and required by the 1999 Act, members of
• Within 60 days after the end of each the Patent and Trademark Public
ACTION: Notice and request for
fiscal year: (1) Prepare an annual report Advisory Committees will receive
nominations for the Patent and
on matters listed above; (2) transmit the compensation for each day (including
Trademark Public Advisory
report to the Secretary of Commerce, the travel time) while the member is
Committees.
President, and the Committees on the attending meetings or engaged in the
SUMMARY: On November 29, 1999, the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of business of that Advisory Committee.
President signed into law the Patent and Representatives; and (3) publish the The enabling statute states that members
Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the report in the Official Gazette of the are to be compensated at the daily
‘‘Act’’), Public Law 106–113, which, USPTO. equivalent of the annual rate of basic
among other things, established two pay in effect for level III of the Executive
Public Advisory Committees to review Advisory Committees Schedule under section 5314 of Title 5,
the policies, goals, performance, budget United States Code. Committee
The Public Advisory Committees are members are compensated on an hourly
and user fees of the United States Patent
each composed of nine (9) voting basis, calculated at the daily rate. While
and Trademark Office (USPTO) with
members who are appointed by the away from home or regular place of
respect to patents, in the case of the
Secretary of Commerce (the ‘‘Secretary’’) business, each member shall be allowed
Patent Public Advisory Committee, and
and serve at the pleasure of the travel expenses, including per diem in
with respect to trademarks, in the case
Secretary for three-year terms. Members lieu of subsistence, as authorized by
of the Trademark Public Advisory
are eligible for reappointment for a Section 5703 of Title 5, United States
Committee, and to advise the Director
second consecutive three-year term. The Code.
on these matters (now codified at 35
Public Advisory Committee members
U.S.C. 5). The America Invents Act Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws
must be citizens of the United States
Technical Corrections Act made several
amendments to the 1999 Act, including and are chosen to represent the interests Public Advisory Committee Members
the requirement that the terms of the of diverse users of the United States are Special Government Employees
USPTO Public Advisory Committee Patent and Trademark Office with within the meaning of Section 202 of
members be realigned by 2014, so that respect to patents, in the case of the Title 18, United States Code. The
December 1 be used as the start and end Patent Public Advisory Committee, and following additional information
date, with terms staggered so that each with respect to trademarks, in the case includes several, but not all, of the
year three existing terms expire and of the Trademark Public Advisory ethics rules that apply to members, and
three new terms begin on December 1. Committee. Members must represent assumes that members are not engaged
Through this Notice, the USPTO is small and large entity applicants located in Public Advisory Committee business
requesting nominations for up to three in the United States in proportion to the more than 60 days during any period of
(3) members of the Patent Public number of applications filed by such 365 consecutive days.
Advisory Committee, and for up to three applicants. The Committees must • Each member will be required to
(3) members of the Trademark Public include individuals with ‘‘substantial file a confidential financial disclosure
Advisory Committee, for terms of three background and achievement in finance, form within thirty (30) days of
years that begin on December 1, 2015. management, labor relations, science, appointment. 5 CFR 2634.202(c),
technology, and office automation.’’ 35 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b).
DATES: Nominations must be
U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public • Each member will be subject to
postmarked or electronically Advisory Committees also includes many of the public integrity laws,
transmitted on or before July 25, 2015. three (3) non-voting members including criminal bars against
ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit representing each labor organization representing a party in a particular
nominations should send the nominee’s recognized by the USPTO. matter that came before the member’s
resumé by postal mail to Andrew C. Administration policy discourages the committee and that involved at least one
Byrnes, Chief of Staff, Office of the appointment of federally registered specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also
Under Secretary of Commerce for lobbyists to agency advisory boards and 18 U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars.
Intellectual Property and Director of the commissions (Lobbyists on Agency A member also must not act on a matter
USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Boards and Commissions, http:// in which the member (or any of certain
Alexandria, Virginia, 22313–1450 or by www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/ closely related entities) has a financial
electronic mail to: PPACnominations@ lobbyist-agency-boards-and- interest. 18 U.S.C. 208.
uspto.gov for the Patent Public Advisory commissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. • Representation of foreign interests
Committee, or TPACnominations@ Order No. 13490, 74 FR 4673 (January may also raise issues. 35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1)
uspto.gov for the Trademark Public
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 and 18 U.S.C. 219.
Advisory Committee. does not specifically apply to federally
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: registered lobbyists appointed by agency Meetings of the Patent and Trademark
Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of Staff, Office or department heads, it sets forth the Public Advisory Committees
of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Administration’s general policy of Meetings of each Advisory Committee
Intellectual Property and Director of the decreasing the influence of special will take place at the call of the
USPTO, at (571) 272–8600. interests in the Federal Government). respective Committee Chair to consider
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![34902 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 117 / Thursday, June 18, 2015 / Notices
an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings administrative policies and practices) of available the requested auxiliary aid or
may be conducted in person, any program over which the Secretary service because of insufficient time to
telephonically, on-line through the has jurisdiction and includes Indian make arrangements.
Internet, or by other appropriate means. children or adults as participants or Electronic Access to this Document:
The meetings of each Advisory programs that may benefit Indian The official version of this document is
Committee will be open to the public children or adults, including any the document published in the Federal
except each Advisory Committee may, program established under Title VII, Register. Free Internet access to the
by majority vote, meet in executive Part A of the Elementary and Secondary official edition of the Federal Register
session when considering personnel, Education Act. The Council submits to and the Code of Federal Regulations is
privileged, or other confidential the Congress a report on the activities of available via the Federal Digital System
information. Nominees must have the the Council that includes at: www.gpo.gov/fdsys. At this site you
ability to participate in Committee recommendations the Council considers can view this document, as well as all
business through the Internet. appropriate for the improvement of other documents of this Department
Dated: June 10, 2015.
Federal education programs that include published in the Federal Register, in
Indian children or adults as participants text or Adobe Portable Document
Michelle K. Lee,
or that may benefit Indian children or Format (PDF). To use PDF, you must
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual adults, and recommendations
Property and Director of the United States
have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is
concerning the funding of any such available free at the site.
Patent and Trademark Office.
program. You may also access documents of the
[FR Doc. 2015–15071 Filed 6–17–15; 8:45 am] One of the Council’s responsibilities Department published in the Federal
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P is to develop and provide Register by using the article search
recommendations to the Secretary of feature at: www.federalregister.gov.
Education on the funding and Specifically, through the advanced
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION administration (including the search feature at this site, you can limit
development of regulations, and your search to documents published by
Announcement of an Open Public administrative policies and practices) of
Meeting the Department.
any program over which the Secretary
has jurisdiction that can benefit Indian Authority: The National Advisory Council
AGENCY: National Advisory Council on on Indian Education is authorized by Section
Indian Education (NACIE or Council), children or adults participating in any
7141 of the Elementary and Secondary
U.S. Department of Education. program which could benefit Indian Education Act.
ACTION: Announcement of an open
children.
Meeting Agenda: The purpose of the Heather Rieman,
public meeting.
meeting is to convene the Council to Acting Assistant Secretary for Elementary and
SUMMARY: This notice sets forth the conduct the following business: (1) Secondary Education.
schedule of an upcoming public Final discussion, review and approval [FR Doc. 2015–14947 Filed 6–17–15; 8:45 am]
meeting conducted by the National of the annual report to Congress; (2) BILLING CODE P
Advisory Council on Indian Education Discuss schedule to submit
(NACIE). Notice of the meeting is recommendations to the Secretary of
required by section 10(a)(2) of the Education on funding and DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Advisory Committee Act and administration of programs; and, (3)
decide on possible dates for the next [Docket No. EERE–2013–BT–NOC–0005]
intended to notify the public of its
opportunity to attend. open public meeting(s) for the NACIE.
Access to Records of the Meeting: The Solicitation of Nominations for
DATES: The NACIE meeting will be held Membership on the Appliance
Department will post the official report
via conference call on July 1, 2015— of the meeting on the OESE Web site at: Standards and Rulemaking Federal
4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ Advisory Committee
Saving Time. Up to 20 dial-in, listen oese/index.html?src=oc 21 days after the
only phone lines will be made available AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and
meeting. Pursuant to the FACA, the Renewable Energy, Department of
to the public on a first come, first served public may also inspect the materials at
basis. The conference call number is 1– Energy.
the Office of Indian Education, United
888–677–5810 and the participant code ACTION: Solicitation of nominations for
States Department of Education, 400
is 3132285. Maryland Avenue SW., Washington, DC membership.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tina 20202, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to
Hunter, Designated Federal Official, SUMMARY: To ensure a wide range of
5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time candidates and a balanced committee,
Office of Elementary and Secondary or by emailing TribalConsultation@
Education, U.S. Department of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
ed.gov or by calling Terrie Nelson on announces the solicitation of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW., (202) 401–0424 to schedule an
Washington, DC 20202. Telephone: nominations to fill upcoming vacancies
appointment. on the Appliance Standards and
202–205–8527. Fax: 202–205–0310. Reasonable Accommodations: The Rulemaking Federal Advisory
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NACIE’s hearing site is accessible to individuals Committee.
Statutory Authority and Function: The with disabilities. If you will need an
National Advisory Council on Indian auxiliary aid or service to participate in DATES: All nomination information
should be provided in a single,
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Education is authorized by § 7141 of the the meeting (e.g., interpreting service,
Elementary and Secondary Education assistive listening device, or materials in complete package submitted
Act. The Council is established within an alternate format), notify Brandon electronically or postmarked by July 17,
the Department of Education to advise Dent on (202) 453–6450 no later than 2015.
the Secretary of Education on the June 26, 2015. Although we will attempt ADDRESSES: Nominations packages
funding and administration (including to meet a request received after request should be submitted either
the development of regulations, and due date, we may not be able to make electronically or by mail, but not by
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Document Created: 2018-02-22 11:12:10
Document Modified: 2018-02-22 11:12:10
| 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 | Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees. | |
| Dates | Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before July 25, 2015. | |
| Contact | Andrew C. Byrnes, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272-8600. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 34901 |
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