80 FR 63543 - Patent Public Advisory Committee Public Hearing on the Proposed Patent Fee Schedule

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 202 (October 20, 2015)

Page Range		63543-63544
FR Document		2015-26574

Under Section 10 of the America Invents Act (AIA), the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) may set or adjust by rule any patent or trademark fee established, authorized, or charged under Title 35 of the United States Code or the Trademark Act of 1946, respectively. The USPTO currently is planning to set or adjust patent fees pursuant to its Section 10 fee setting authority. As part of the rulemaking process to set or adjust patent fees, the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) is required under Section 10 of the AIA to hold a public hearing about any proposed patent fees, and the USPTO is required to assist PPAC in carrying out that hearing. To that end, the USPTO will make its proposed patent fees available as set forth in the Supplementary Information section of this Notice before any PPAC hearing and will help the PPAC to notify the public about the hearing. Accordingly, this document announces the dates and logistics for the PPAC public hearing regarding USPTO proposed patent fees. Interested members of the public are invited to testify at the hearing and/or submit written comments about the proposed patent fees and the questions posed on PPAC's Web site about the proposed fees.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 202 (Tuesday, October 20, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 202 (Tuesday, October 20, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63543-63544]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-26574]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Office

[Docket No. PTO-P-2015-0065]


Patent Public Advisory Committee Public Hearing on the Proposed 
Patent Fee Schedule

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

ACTION: Notice of Public Hearing.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Under Section 10 of the America Invents Act (AIA), the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) may set or adjust by rule 
any patent or trademark fee established, authorized, or charged under 
Title 35 of the United States Code or the Trademark Act of 1946, 
respectively. The USPTO currently is planning to set or adjust patent 
fees pursuant to its Section 10 fee setting authority. As part of the 
rulemaking process to set or adjust patent fees, the Patent Public 
Advisory Committee (PPAC) is required under Section 10 of the AIA to 
hold a public hearing about any proposed patent fees, and the USPTO is 
required to assist PPAC in carrying out that hearing. To that end, the 
USPTO will make its proposed patent fees available as set forth in the 
Supplementary Information section of this Notice before any PPAC 
hearing and will help the PPAC to notify the public about the hearing. 
Accordingly, this document announces the dates and logistics for the 
PPAC public hearing regarding USPTO proposed patent fees. Interested 
members of the public are invited to testify at the hearing and/or 
submit written comments about the proposed patent fees and the 
questions posed on PPAC's Web site about the proposed fees.

DATES: Public hearing: November 19, 2015.
    Comments: For those wishing to submit written comments on the fee 
proposal that will be published by November 12, 2015, but not 
requesting an opportunity to testify at the public hearing, the 
deadline for receipt of those written comments is November 25, 2015.
    Oral testimony: Those wishing to present oral testimony at the 
hearing must request an opportunity to do so in writing no later than 
November 12, 2015.
    Pre-scheduled speakers: Pre-scheduled speakers providing testimony 
at the hearing should submit a written copy of their testimony for 
inclusion in the record of the proceedings no later than November 25, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Public hearing: The PPAC will hold a public hearing on 
November 19, 2015 beginning at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time (EST), 
and ending at 4:00 p.m., EST, at the USPTO, Madison Auditorium South, 
Concourse Level, Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, 
Virginia 22314.
    Email: Written comments should be sent by email addressed to 
[email protected].
    Postal mail: Comments may also be submitted by postal mail 
addressed to: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Mail Stop CFO, 
P.O. Box 1450,

[[Page 63544]]

Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, ATTN: Brendan Hourigan. Although comments 
may be submitted by postal mail, the USPTO prefers to receive comments 
via email. Written comments should be identified in the subject line of 
the email or postal mailing as ``Fee Setting.'' Because comments will 
be made available for public inspection, information that is not 
desired to be made public, such as an address or telephone number, 
should not be included in the comments.
    Web cast: The public hearing will be available via Web cast. 
Information about the Web cast will be posted on the USPTO's Internet 
Web site (address: www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting) before the public hearing.
    Transcripts: Transcript of the hearing will be available on the 
USPTO Internet Web site (www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting) shortly after the hearing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brendan Hourigan, Office of the Chief 
Financial Officer, by phone (571) 272-8966, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests to testify should indicate the 
following: (1) The name of the person wishing to testify; (2) the 
person's contact information (telephone number and email address); (3) 
the organization(s) the person represents, if any; and (4) an 
indication of the amount of time needed for the testimony. Requests to 
testify must be submitted by email to Jennifer Lo at 
[email protected]. Based upon the requests received, an agenda for 
witness testimony will be sent to testifying requesters and posted on 
the USPTO Internet Web site (address: www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting). If time permits, 
the PPAC may permit unscheduled testimony as well.
    Effective September 16, 2011, with the passage of the AIA, the 
USPTO is authorized under Section 10 of the AIA to set or adjust by 
rule all patent and trademark fees established, authorized, or charged 
under Title 35 of the United States Code and the Trademark Act of 1946, 
respectively. Patent and trademark fees set or adjusted by rule under 
Section 10 of the AIA may only recover the aggregate estimated costs to 
the Office for processing, activities, services, and materials relating 
to patents and trademarks, respectively, including administrative costs 
of the Office with respect to each as the case may be.
    Congress set forth the process for the USPTO to follow in setting 
or adjusting patent and trademark fees by rule under Section 10 of the 
AIA. Congress requires the relevant advisory committee to hold a public 
hearing about the USPTO fee proposals after receiving them from the 
agency. Congress likewise requires the relevant advisory committee to 
prepare a written report on the proposed fees and the USPTO to consider 
the relevant advisory committee's report before finally setting or 
adjusting the fees. Further, Congress requires the USPTO to publish its 
proposed fees and supporting rationale in the Federal Register and give 
the public not less than 45 days in which to submit comments on the 
proposed change in fees. Finally, Congress requires the USPTO to 
publish its final rule setting or adjusting fees also in the Federal 
Register.
    Presently, the USPTO is planning to exercise its fee setting 
authority to set or adjust patent fees. The USPTO will publish a 
proposed patent fee schedule and related supplementary information for 
public viewing no later than November 12, 2015, on the USPTO Internet 
Web site (address: www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting). In turn, the PPAC will hold a public hearing 
about the proposed patent fee schedule on the date indicated herein. 
The USPTO will assist the PPAC in holding the hearing by providing 
resources to organize the hearing and by notifying the public about the 
hearing, such as through this notice. To gather information from the 
public about the USPTO's proposed patent fees, the PPAC will post 
specific questions for the public's consideration on the PPAC's 
Internet Web site (address: http://www.uspto.gov/about/advisory/ppac) 
after the USPTO publishes its proposed patent fee schedule. The public 
may wish to address those questions in its hearing testimony and/or in 
written comments submitted to PPAC as described herein.
    Following the PPAC public hearing, the USPTO will publish a Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register, setting forth its 
proposed patent fees. The publication of that Notice will open a 
comment window through which the public may provide written comments 
directly to the USPTO. Additional information about public comment to 
the USPTO will be provided in the USPTO's Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking.

    Dated: October 14, 2015.
Michelle K. Lee,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-26574 Filed 10-19-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 202 / Tuesday, October 20, 2015 / Notices 63543

Web site (address: www.uspto.gov/ or adjusting fees also in the Federal States Patent and Trademark Office
about-us/performance-and-planning/ Register. (USPTO) may set or adjust by rule any
fee-setting-and-adjusting) shortly after Presently, the USPTO is planning to patent or trademark fee established,
the hearing. exercise its fee setting authority to set or authorized, or charged under Title 35 of
adjust trademark fees. The USPTO will the United States Code or the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
publish a proposed trademark fee Trademark Act of 1946, respectively.
Brendan Hourigan, Office of the Chief
schedule and related supplementary The USPTO currently is planning to set
Financial Officer, by phone (571) 272–
information for public viewing no later or adjust patent fees pursuant to its
8966, or by email at brendan.hourigan@ than October 27, 2015, on the USPTO
uspto.gov. Section 10 fee setting authority. As part
Internet Web site (address: of the rulemaking process to set or
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance- adjust patent fees, the Patent Public
to testify should indicate the following: and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting). Advisory Committee (PPAC) is required
(1) The name of the person wishing to In turn, the TPAC will hold a public under Section 10 of the AIA to hold a
testify; (2) the person’s contact hearing about the proposed trademark public hearing about any proposed
information (telephone number and fee schedule on the date indicated patent fees, and the USPTO is required
email address); (3) the organization(s) herein. The USPTO will assist the TPAC to assist PPAC in carrying out that
the person represents, if any; and (4) an in holding the hearing by providing hearing. To that end, the USPTO will
indication of the amount of time needed resources to organize the hearing and by make its proposed patent fees available
for the testimony. Requests to testify notifying the public about the hearing, as set forth in the Supplementary
must be submitted by email to Pamela such as through this notice. To gather Information section of this Notice before
Lloyd at Pamela.Lloyd@uspto.gov. information from the public about the any PPAC hearing and will help the
Based upon the requests received, an USPTO’s proposed trademark fees, the PPAC to notify the public about the
agenda for witness testimony will be TPAC will post specific questions for hearing. Accordingly, this document
sent to testifying requesters and posted the public’s consideration on the announces the dates and logistics for the
on the USPTO Internet Web site TPAC’s Internet Web site (address: PPAC public hearing regarding USPTO
(address: www.uspto.gov/about-us/ www.uspto.gov/about/advisory/tpac) proposed patent fees. Interested
performance-and-planning/fee-setting- after the USPTO publishes its proposed members of the public are invited to
and-adjusting). If time permits, the trademark fee schedule. The public may testify at the hearing and/or submit
TPAC may permit unscheduled wish to address those questions in its written comments about the proposed
testimony as well. hearing testimony and/or in written patent fees and the questions posed on
Effective September 16, 2011, with comments submitted to TPAC as PPAC’s Web site about the proposed
the passage of the AIA, the USPTO is described herein. fees.
authorized under Section 10 of the AIA Following the TPAC public hearing,
the USPTO will publish a Notice of DATES: Public hearing: November 19,
to set or adjust by rule all patent and 2015.
trademark fees established, authorized, Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal
Register, setting forth its proposed Comments: For those wishing to
or charged under Title 35 of the United submit written comments on the fee
States Code and the Trademark Act of trademark fees. The publication of that
Notice will open a comment window proposal that will be published by
1946, respectively. Patent and November 12, 2015, but not requesting
trademark fees set or adjusted by rule through which the public may provide
written comments directly to the an opportunity to testify at the public
under Section 10 of the AIA may only hearing, the deadline for receipt of those
recover the aggregate estimated costs to USPTO. Additional information about
public comment to the USPTO will be written comments is November 25,
the Office for processing, activities, 2015.
services, and materials relating to provided in the USPTO’s Notice of
Oral testimony: Those wishing to
patents and trademarks, respectively, Proposed Rulemaking.
present oral testimony at the hearing
including administrative costs of the Dated: October 14, 2015. must request an opportunity to do so in
Office with respect to each as the case Michelle K. Lee, writing no later than November 12,
may be. Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual 2015.
Congress set forth the process for the Property and Director of the United States Pre-scheduled speakers: Pre-
USPTO to follow in setting or adjusting Patent and Trademark Office. scheduled speakers providing testimony
patent and trademark fees by rule under [FR Doc. 2015–26572 Filed 10–19–15; 8:45 am] at the hearing should submit a written
Section 10 of the AIA. Congress requires BILLING CODE 3510–16–P copy of their testimony for inclusion in
the relevant advisory committee to hold the record of the proceedings no later
a public hearing about the USPTO fee than November 25, 2015.
proposals after receiving them from the DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ADDRESSES: Public hearing: The PPAC
agency. Congress likewise requires the will hold a public hearing on November
Patent and Office
relevant advisory committee to prepare 19, 2015 beginning at 2:00 p.m., Eastern
a written report on the proposed fees [Docket No. PTO–P–2015–0065] Standard Time (EST), and ending at
and the USPTO to consider the relevant 4:00 p.m., EST, at the USPTO, Madison
advisory committee’s report before Patent Public Advisory Committee Auditorium South, Concourse Level,
finally setting or adjusting the fees. Public Hearing on the Proposed Patent Madison Building, 600 Dulany Street,
Fee Schedule
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Further, Congress requires the USPTO Alexandria, Virginia 22314.
to publish its proposed fees and AGENCY: United States Patent and Email: Written comments should be
supporting rationale in the Federal Trademark Office, Department of sent by email addressed to fee.setting@
Register and give the public not less Commerce. uspto.gov.
than 45 days in which to submit ACTION: Notice of Public Hearing. Postal mail: Comments may also be
comments on the proposed change in submitted by postal mail addressed to:
fees. Finally, Congress requires the SUMMARY: Under Section 10 of the United States Patent and Trademark
USPTO to publish its final rule setting America Invents Act (AIA), the United Office, Mail Stop CFO, P.O. Box 1450,

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63544 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 202 / Tuesday, October 20, 2015 / Notices

Alexandria, VA 22313–1450, ATTN: patent and trademark fees by rule under Dated: October 14, 2015.
Brendan Hourigan. Although comments Section 10 of the AIA. Congress requires Michelle K. Lee,
may be submitted by postal mail, the the relevant advisory committee to hold Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual
USPTO prefers to receive comments via a public hearing about the USPTO fee Property and Director of the United States
email. Written comments should be proposals after receiving them from the Patent and Trademark Office.
identified in the subject line of the agency. Congress likewise requires the [FR Doc. 2015–26574 Filed 10–19–15; 8:45 am]
email or postal mailing as ‘‘Fee Setting.’’ relevant advisory committee to prepare BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
Because comments will be made a written report on the proposed fees
available for public inspection, and the USPTO to consider the relevant
information that is not desired to be advisory committee’s report before COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
made public, such as an address or finally setting or adjusting the fees. COMMISSION
telephone number, should not be Further, Congress requires the USPTO
included in the comments. Agency Information Collection
to publish its proposed fees and Activities Under OMB Review
Web cast: The public hearing will be
available via Web cast. Information supporting rationale in the Federal
Register and give the public not less AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading
about the Web cast will be posted on the Commission.
USPTO’s Internet Web site (address: than 45 days in which to submit
comments on the proposed change in ACTION: Notice.
www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance-
and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting) fees. Finally, Congress requires the SUMMARY: In compliance with the
before the public hearing. USPTO to publish its final rule setting Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Transcripts: Transcript of the hearing or adjusting fees also in the Federal (‘‘PRA’’), this notice announces that the
will be available on the USPTO Internet Register. Information Collection Request (‘‘ICR’’)
Web site (www.uspto.gov/about-us/ Presently, the USPTO is planning to abstracted below has been forwarded to
performance-and-planning/fee-setting- exercise its fee setting authority to set or the Office of Management and Budget
and-adjusting) shortly after the hearing. adjust patent fees. The USPTO will (‘‘OMB’’) for review and comment. The
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: publish a proposed patent fee schedule ICR describes the nature of the
Brendan Hourigan, Office of the Chief and related supplementary information information collection and its expected
Financial Officer, by phone (571) 272– for public viewing no later than costs and burden.
8966, or by email at brendan.hourigan@ November 12, 2015, on the USPTO DATES: Comments must be submitted on
uspto.gov. Internet Web site (address: or before November 19, 2015.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Requests www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance- ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the
to testify should indicate the following: and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting). burden estimated or any other aspect of
(1) The name of the person wishing to In turn, the PPAC will hold a public the information collection, including
testify; (2) the person’s contact hearing about the proposed patent fee suggestions for reducing the burden,
information (telephone number and schedule on the date indicated herein. may be submitted directly to the Office
email address); (3) the organization(s) The USPTO will assist the PPAC in of Information and Regulatory Affairs
the person represents, if any; and (4) an holding the hearing by providing (‘‘OIRA’’) in OMB, within 30 days of the
indication of the amount of time needed notice’s publication, by email at
resources to organize the hearing and by
for the testimony. Requests to testify OIRAsubmissions@omb.eop.gov. Please
notifying the public about the hearing,
must be submitted by email to Jennifer identify the comments by OMB Control
such as through this notice. To gather
Lo at Jennifer.Lo@uspto.gov. Based upon No. 3038–0101. Please provide the
the requests received, an agenda for information from the public about the
Commission with a copy of all
witness testimony will be sent to USPTO’s proposed patent fees, the
submitted comments at the address
testifying requesters and posted on the PPAC will post specific questions for listed below. Please refer to OMB
USPTO Internet Web site (address: the public’s consideration on the Reference No. 3038–0101, found on
www.uspto.gov/about-us/performance- PPAC’s Internet Web site (address: http://reginfo.gov. Comments may also
and-planning/fee-setting-and-adjusting). http://www.uspto.gov/about/advisory/ be mailed to the Office of Information
If time permits, the PPAC may permit ppac) after the USPTO publishes its and Regulatory Affairs, Office of
unscheduled testimony as well. proposed patent fee schedule. The Management and Budget, Attention:
Effective September 16, 2011, with public may wish to address those Desk Officer for the Commodity Futures
the passage of the AIA, the USPTO is questions in its hearing testimony and/ Trading Commission, 725 17th Street
authorized under Section 10 of the AIA or in written comments submitted to NW., Washington, DC 20503, and to the
to set or adjust by rule all patent and PPAC as described herein. Commission through the Agency’s Web
trademark fees established, authorized, Following the PPAC public hearing, site at http://comments.cftc.gov. Follow
or charged under Title 35 of the United the USPTO will publish a Notice of the instructions for submitting
States Code and the Trademark Act of comments through the Web site.
Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal
1946, respectively. Patent and Comments may also be mailed to:
Register, setting forth its proposed
trademark fees set or adjusted by rule Christopher Kirkpatrick, Secretary of the
patent fees. The publication of that
under Section 10 of the AIA may only Commission, Commodity Futures
recover the aggregate estimated costs to Notice will open a comment window
Trading Commission, Three Lafayette
through which the public may provide
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

the Office for processing, activities, Centre, 1155 21st Street NW.,
services, and materials relating to written comments directly to the Washington, DC 20581 or by Hand
patents and trademarks, respectively, USPTO. Additional information about Delivery/Courier at the same address.
including administrative costs of the public comment to the USPTO will be A copy of the supporting statements
Office with respect to each as the case provided in the USPTO’s Notice of for the collection of information
may be. Proposed Rulemaking. discussed above may be obtained by
Congress set forth the process for the visiting http://reginfo.gov. All
USPTO to follow in setting or adjusting comments must be submitted in

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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:25:56
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:25:56

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 of Public Hearing.
Dates		Public hearing: November 19, 2015.
Contact		Brendan Hourigan, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, by phone (571) 272-8966, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		80 FR 63543

80 FR 63543 - Patent Public Advisory Committee Public Hearing on the Proposed Patent Fee Schedule

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCEPatent and Trademark Office

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 202 (October 20, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office