80_FR_61373 80 FR 61177 - Patents External Quality Survey

80 FR 61177 - Patents External Quality Survey

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 196 (October 9, 2015)

Page Range61177-61178
FR Document2015-25826

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on this extension of a continuing information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 196 (Friday, October 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61177-61178]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25826]



[[Page 61177]]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office


Patents External Quality Survey

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part 
of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, 
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this 
opportunity to comment on this extension of a continuing information 
collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public 
Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 8, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]. Include `0651-0057 
comment' in the subject line of the message.
     Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
     Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records Management Division Director, 
Office of the Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and 
Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Martin Rater, Management Analyst, Office of 
Patent Quality Assurance, United States Patent and Trademark Office, 
P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313- 1450; by telephone at 571-272-
5966; or by email to [email protected], with ``0651-0057 comment'' 
in the subject line. Additional information about this collection is 
also available at http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection 
Review.''

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

    The USPTO developed the Patents External Quality Survey in 2006 as 
part of its quality improvement efforts. This survey narrows the focus 
of customer satisfaction to examination quality and uses a 
longitudinal, rotating panel design to assess changes in customer 
perceptions and to identify key areas for examiner training and 
opportunities for improvement. The USPTO plans to survey patent agents, 
attorneys, and other individuals from large domestic corporations 
(including those with 500+ employees), small and medium-size 
businesses, and universities and other non-profit research 
organizations. In addition, the USPTO also plans to survey independent 
inventors. The USPTO does not plan to survey foreign entities.
    The USPTO will draw a random sample of these customers from their 
database. Due to the rotating panel design, some sample members will be 
surveyed twice in order to measure change over a period of time. Each 
year of the survey will include two waves of data collection.
    The Patents External Quality Survey is a mail survey, although 
respondents can also complete the survey electronically on the Web. The 
content of both versions will be identical. A survey packet containing 
the questionnaire, a separate cover letter prepared by the Deputy 
Commissioner of Patent Quality, a postage-paid, pre-addressed return 
envelope, and instructions for completing the survey electronically 
will be mailed to all sample members. A pre-notification letter, 
reminder/thank you postcards, and telephone calls will be used to 
encourage response from sample members.
    This is a voluntary survey and all responses will remain 
confidential. The collected data will not be linked to the respondent 
and contact information that is used for sampling purposes will be 
maintained in a separate file from the quantitative data. Respondents 
are not required to provide any identifying information such as their 
name, address, or Social Security Number. In order to access and 
complete the online survey, respondents will need to use the username, 
password, and survey ID number provided by the USPTO.

II. Method of Collection

    Electronically via email; by postal mail, facsimile, or hand 
delivery in paper form.

III. Data

    OMB Number: 0651-0057.
    IC Instruments and Forms: No form numbers.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently previously existing 
Information Collection.
    Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other 
for-profits; and non-profit institutions.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,100 responses per year.
    Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take 
the public 10 minutes (.17 hours) to submit a single item in this 
collection, including: The time to gather the necessary information, 
prepare the appropriate form or petition, and submit the completed 
request to the USPTO. The time per response, estimated annual 
responses, and estimated annual hour burden associated with each 
instrument in this collection are shown in the table below.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 516.67 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: 
$211,834.70. The USPTO expects that attorneys will complete these 
applications. The professional hourly rate for attorneys is $410. Using 
this hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the total respondent cost 
burden for this collection is $211,834.70 per year.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                     Responses     Burden  (hrs/
          IC No.                    Item               Hours           (yr)             yr)        Rate  ($/hr)
                           .....................             (a)             (b)   (c) (a) x (b)             (d)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................  Patents External                 0.17             465            77.5         $410.00
                            Quality Survey.
2........................  Electronic Patents               0.17           2,635          439.17          410.00
                            External Quality
                            Survey.
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total................  .....................  ..............           3,100          516.67  ..............
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There 
are no annual (non-hour) costs associated with this information 
collection. Respondents do not need to submit filing fees with these 
surveys. The USPTO covers the costs of all survey materials and 
provides postage-paid, pre-addressed return envelopes for the completed 
mail surveys so there are no postage costs associated with this 
information collection.

IV. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on:

[[Page 61178]]

    (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility;
    (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including 
hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information;
    (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and
    (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on 
respondents, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or 
included in the request for OMB approval of this information 
collection; they also will become a matter of public record.

    Dated: October 2, 2015.
Marcie Lovett,
Records Management Division Director, USPTO, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-25826 Filed 10-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 196 / Friday, October 9, 2015 / Notices 61177 DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: is used for sampling purposes will be maintained in a separate file from the United States Patent and Trademark I. Abstract quantitative data. Respondents are not Office The USPTO developed the Patents required to provide any identifying External Quality Survey in 2006 as part information such as their name, address, Patents External Quality Survey of its quality improvement efforts. This or Social Security Number. In order to survey narrows the focus of customer access and complete the online survey, ACTION: Proposed collection; comment satisfaction to examination quality and respondents will need to use the request. uses a longitudinal, rotating panel username, password, and survey ID SUMMARY: The United States Patent and design to assess changes in customer number provided by the USPTO. Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its perceptions and to identify key areas for examiner training and opportunities for II. Method of Collection continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the improvement. The USPTO plans to Electronically via email; by postal general public and other Federal survey patent agents, attorneys, and mail, facsimile, or hand delivery in agencies to take this opportunity to other individuals from large domestic paper form. comment on this extension of a corporations (including those with 500+ III. Data continuing information collection, as employees), small and medium-size required by the Paperwork Reduction businesses, and universities and other OMB Number: 0651–0057. Act of 1995, Public Law 104–13 (44 non-profit research organizations. In IC Instruments and Forms: No form U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). addition, the USPTO also plans to numbers. survey independent inventors. The Type of Review: Revision of a DATES: Written comments must be USPTO does not plan to survey foreign currently previously existing submitted on or before December 8, entities. Information Collection. 2015. The USPTO will draw a random Affected Public: Individuals or ADDRESSES: You may submit comments sample of these customers from their households; businesses or other for- by any of the following methods: database. Due to the rotating panel profits; and non-profit institutions. • Email: InformationCollection@ design, some sample members will be Estimated Number of Respondents: uspto.gov. Include ‘0651–0057 surveyed twice in order to measure 3,100 responses per year. comment’ in the subject line of the change over a period of time. Each year Estimated Time per Response: The message. of the survey will include two waves of USPTO estimates that it will take the • Federal Rulemaking Portal: http:// data collection. public 10 minutes (.17 hours) to submit www.regulations.gov. The Patents External Quality Survey a single item in this collection, • Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records is a mail survey, although respondents including: The time to gather the Management Division Director, Office of can also complete the survey necessary information, prepare the the Chief Information Officer, United electronically on the Web. The content appropriate form or petition, and submit States Patent and Trademark Office, of both versions will be identical. A the completed request to the USPTO. P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313– survey packet containing the The time per response, estimated annual 1450. questionnaire, a separate cover letter responses, and estimated annual hour FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: prepared by the Deputy Commissioner burden associated with each instrument Requests for additional information of Patent Quality, a postage-paid, pre- in this collection are shown in the table should be directed to Martin Rater, addressed return envelope, and below. Management Analyst, Office of Patent instructions for completing the survey Estimated Total Annual Respondent Quality Assurance, United States Patent electronically will be mailed to all Burden Hours: 516.67 hours. and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, sample members. A pre-notification Estimated Total Annual Respondent Alexandria, VA 22313– 1450; by letter, reminder/thank you postcards, (Hourly) Cost Burden: $211,834.70. The telephone at 571–272–5966; or by email and telephone calls will be used to USPTO expects that attorneys will to Martin.Rater@USPTO.GOV, with encourage response from sample complete these applications. The ‘‘0651–0057 comment’’ in the subject members. professional hourly rate for attorneys is line. Additional information about this This is a voluntary survey and all $410. Using this hourly rate, the USPTO collection is also available at http:// responses will remain confidential. The estimates that the total respondent cost www.reginfo.gov under ‘‘Information collected data will not be linked to the burden for this collection is $211,834.70 Collection Review.’’ respondent and contact information that per year. Responses Burden Rate IC No. Item Hours (yr) (hrs/yr) ($/hr) (a) (b) (c) (a) × (b) (d) 1 ....................... Patents External Quality Survey ........................................ 0.17 465 77.5 $410.00 2 ....................... Electronic Patents External Quality Survey ....................... 0.17 2,635 439.17 410.00 Total .......... ............................................................................................ ........................ 3,100 516.67 ........................ tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) filing fees with these surveys. The postage costs associated with this Respondent Cost Burden: $0. There are USPTO covers the costs of all survey information collection. no annual (non-hour) costs associated materials and provides postage-paid, IV. Request for Comments with this information collection. pre-addressed return envelopes for the Respondents do not need to submit completed mail surveys so there are no Comments are invited on: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Oct 08, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM 09OCN1

61178 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 196 / Friday, October 9, 2015 / Notices (a) Whether the proposed collection of Deletions 8410–01–377–9345—6WL information is necessary for the proper 8410–01–377–9442—16WL The following products are proposed 8410–01–377–9464—4WR performance of the functions of the for deletion from the Procurement List: 8410–01–377–9487—6MS agency, including whether the Products 8410–01–377–9491—6ML information shall have practical utility; 8410–01–377–9500—14WS (b) the accuracy of the agency’s Product Name(s)—NSN(s): 8410–01–377–9536—12WL estimate of the burden (including hours Skirt, Service, Coast Guard, Women’s, Dress 8410–01–377–9581—10MS and cost) of the proposed collection of Blue 8410–01–377–9598—10ML information; 8410–01–452–3387—10 Junior Long 8410–01–377–9642—10WL (c) ways to enhance the quality, 8410–01–452–3388—6 Misses Short 8410–01–377–9719—16MS utility, and clarity of the information to 8410–01–452–3389—6 Women’s Regular 8410–01–377–9747—12WS 8410–01–452–3390—10 Misses Short 8410–01–377–9812—14WL be collected; and 8410–01–452–3391—6 Misses Regular 8410–01–377–9899—12MS (d) ways to minimize the burden of 8410–01–452–3393—4 Misses Regular 8410–01–377–9906—12ML the collection of information on 8410–01–452–3394—8 Misses Regular 8410–01–377–9934—8WL respondents, e.g., the use of automated 8410–01–452–3395—8 Misses Long 8410–01–377–9938—8ML collection techniques or other forms of 8410–01–452–3396—8 Women’s Short 8410–01–377–9943—18WL information technology. 8410–01–452–3397—8 Women’s Regular 8410–01–377–9953—6WS Comments submitted in response to 8410–01–452–3398—10 Junior Regular 8410–01–377–9964—2MS this notice will be summarized or 8410–01–452–3399—10 Women’s Short 8410–01–377–9968—2MR 8410–01–452–3400—8 Misses Short 8410–01–377–9981—4WS included in the request for OMB 8410–01–452–3402—10 Misses Regular 8410–01–377–9982—8WS approval of this information collection; 8410–01–452–3404—10 Misses Long 8410–01–377–9998—10WS they also will become a matter of public 8410–01–452–3653—12 Junior Long 8410–01–378–0012—4MS record. 8410–01–452–3654—12 Misses Short 8410–01–378–0020—14MS Dated: October 2, 2015. 8410–01–452–3655—20 Misses Regular 8410–01–378–0067—6ML 8410–01–452–3656—12 Misses Regular Skirt, Commissioned and Enlisted, Air Force, Marcie Lovett, 8410–01–452–3657—12 Misses Long Women’s, Blue Records Management Division Director, 8410–01–452–3658—10 Women’s Long 8410–01–377–9383—16ML USPTO, Office of the Chief Information 8410–01–452–3659—12 Women’s Long 8410–01–377–9399—8MS Officer. 8410–01–452–3660—10 Women’s Regular 8410–01–377–9416—16WS [FR Doc. 2015–25826 Filed 10–8–15; 8:45 am] 8410–01–452–3661—12 Junior Regular 8410–01–377–9422—8ML BILLING CODE 3510–16–P 8410–01–452–3662—12 Women’s Short Mandatory Source of Supply: VGS, Inc., 8410–01–452–3663—14 Misses Short Cleveland, OH. 8410–01–452–3664—14 Junior Short Contracting Activity: Defense Logistics 8410–01–452–3665—14 Women’s Short Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM 8410–01–452–3666—14 Misses Long PA. PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR 8410–01–452–3667—14 Misses Regular 8410–01–452–3668—16 Junior Short Barry S. Lineback, SEVERELY DISABLED 8410–01–452–3669—16 Junior Regular Director, Business Operations. 8410–01–452–3670—16 Misses Long [FR Doc. 2015–25754 Filed 10–8–15; 8:45 am] Procurement List; Proposed Deletions 8410–01–452–3671—14 Junior Long BILLING CODE 6353–01–P AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From 8410–01–452–3672—14 Women’s Regular People Who Are Blind or Severely 8410–01–452–3673—14 Junior Regular 8410–01–452–3674—18 Women’s Regular Disabled. 8410–01–452–3675—20 Women’s Regular COMMITTEE FOR PURCHASE FROM ACTION: Proposed Deletions From the 8410–01–452–3676—22 Women’s Regular PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND OR Procurement List. 8410–01–452–3677—14 Women’s Long SEVERELY DISABLED 8410–01–452–3678—18 Misses Regular SUMMARY: The Committee is proposing 8410–01–452–3679—16 Junior Long Procurement List; Addition to delete products from the Procurement 8410–01–452–3680—18 Misses Short List that was previously furnished by 8410–01–452–3681—16 Women’s Regular AGENCY: Committee for Purchase From the nonprofit agency employing persons 8410–01–452–3682—16 Misses Regular People Who Are Blind or Severely who are blind or have other severe Skirt, Dress, Coast Guard, Women’s, Dress Disabled. Blue ACTION: Addition to the Procurement disabilities. 8410–01–452–6191—6 Women’s Short Comments Must Be Received on or List. 8410–01–452–6195—12 Women’s Regular Before: 11/8/2015. 8410–01–452–6197—16 Women’s Long SUMMARY: This action adds a service to ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase Skirt, Air Force, Women’s, Blue 8410–01–375–8495—4MR the Procurement List that will be From People Who Are Blind or Severely 8410–01–375–8496—6MR provided by nonprofit agency Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite 8410–01–375–8497—6WR employing persons who are blind or 715, Arlington, Virginia 22202–4149. 8410–01–375–8498—8MR have other severe disabilities. For Further Information or To Submit 8410–01–375–8499—8WR DATES: Effective Date: 11/8/2015. Comments Contact: Barry S. Lineback, 8410–01–375–8500—10MR Telephone: (703) 603–7740, Fax: (703) 8410–01–375–8501—10WR ADDRESSES: Committee for Purchase 603–0655, or email CMTEFedReg@ 8410–01–375–8502—12MR From People Who Are Blind or Severely AbilityOne.gov. 8410–01–375–8503—12WR Disabled, 1401 S. Clark Street, Suite tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 8410–01–375–8504—14MR 715, Arlington, Virginia, 22202–4149. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 8410–01–375–8505—14WR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: notice is published pursuant to 41 8410–01–375–8506—16MR U.S.C. 8503 (a)(2) and 41 CFR 51–2.3. Its Barry S. Lineback, Telephone: (703) 8410–01–375–8507—16WR purpose is to provide interested persons 8410–01–375–8508—18MR 603–7740, Fax: (703) 603–0655, or email an opportunity to submit comments on 8410–01–375–8509—18WR CMTEFedReg@AbilityOne.gov. the proposed actions. 8410–01–375–8510—20MR SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Oct 08, 2015 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\09OCN1.SGM 09OCN1


Document Created: 2015-12-15 08:33:23
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 08:33:23
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionProposed collection; comment request.
DatesWritten comments must be submitted on or before December 8, 2015.
ContactRequests for additional information should be directed to Martin Rater, Management Analyst, Office of Patent Quality Assurance, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313- 1450; by telephone at 571-272- 5966; or by email to [email protected], with ``0651-0057 comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about this collection is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.''
FR Citation80 FR 61177 
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