81 FR 86323 - Notice of Roundtables and Extension of the Period for Comments on Examination Time Goals
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 230 (November 30, 2016)
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 230 (November 30, 2016)
| Page Range | 86323-86324 | |
| FR Document | 2016-28689 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 230 (Wednesday, November 30, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 86323-86324] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-28689] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO-P-2016-0051] Notice of Roundtables and Extension of the Period for Comments on Examination Time Goals AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice of public roundtables and extension of the comment period. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or USPTO) previously announced information for roundtables in Alexandria, Virginia, and Dallas, Texas, to solicit public feedback as part of an effort to reevaluate its examination time goals. Examination time goals vary by technology and represent the average amount of time that a patent examiner is expected to spend examining a patent application in a particular technology. The Office now is providing information on the additional three roundtables that the Office will be conducting in Detroit, Michigan; Denver, Colorado; and San Jose, California. In addition, the Office is extending the written comment period to ensure that all stakeholders have sufficient opportunity to submit comments on the reevaluation of the Office's examination time goals. DATES: Written Comments Deadline: To be ensured of consideration, written comments must be received on or before January 30, 2017. ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by electronic mail addressed to [email protected]. Comments also may be submitted by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments--Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the attention of Raul Tamayo, 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 Office prefers to receive comments by electronic mail in order to facilitate posting on the USPTO's Internet Web site (http://www.uspto.gov). Electronic comments may be submitted in plain text, ADOBE[supreg] portable document format, or MICROSOFT WORD[supreg] format. Comments not submitted electronically should be submitted on paper in a format that facilitates digital scanning into ADOBE[supreg] portable document format. [[Page 86324]] The comments will be available for viewing via the USPTO's Internet Web site (http://www.uspto.gov). The comments also 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 22314. Because the comments will be made publicly available, information that the submitter does not desire to make public, such as an address or phone number, should not be included in the comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roundtable information, including roundtable registration information: Elizabeth Magargel, Strategic Planning Project Manager, Office of the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations, by telephone at (571) 270-7248. Written comments: Raul Tamayo, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at (571) 272-7728. Examination time goals: Daniel Sullivan, Director Technology Center 1600, by telephone at (571) 272-0900. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a Federal Register Notice, Request for Comments on Examination Time Goals, 81 FR 73383 (Oct. 25, 2016), the Office solicited written comments on the reevaluation of the Office's examination time goals. In addition to accepting public feedback through the submission of written comments, the Office provided increased interactive participation through IdeaScale[supreg], a Web- based collaboration tool that allows users to post comments and interact with the posted comments of others; and through roundtables in Alexandria, Detroit, Denver, Dallas, and San Jose. The October 25, 2016 Federal Register Notice provided dates and other information for the Alexandria and Dallas roundtables. The October 25, 2016 Federal Register Notice indicated that dates and other information for the roundtables to be conducted in Detroit, Denver, and San Jose would be forthcoming. The Office now provides dates and other information for the roundtables to be conducted in Detroit, Denver, and San Jose. The San Jose roundtable has been scheduled for January 11, 2017, which is after the written comment deadline set forth in the October 25, 2016 Federal Register Notice. To ensure that all roundtable attendees also have the opportunity to provide written comments, the Office hereby is extending the period for submission of written comments until January 30, 2017. Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-external-outreach for more information on the reevaluation of the Office's examination time goals. The Web page includes: Dates and registration information for the roundtables; information on how to use IdeaScale[supreg] to comment on examination time goals; and information to help inform public comments responsive to the October 25, 2016 Federal Register Notice requesting comments, such as background material illustrating the use of examination time goals in the context of individual examiner evaluation, and as an input into the model used to forecast pendency and hiring needs. The Office plans to use the public feedback it receives as an input to help ensure that the Office's examination time goals accurately reflect the amount of time needed by examiners to conduct quality examination in a manner that responds to stakeholders' interests. Detroit, Denver, and San Jose Roundtable Registration Information: Roundtables will be conducted in Detroit, Denver, and San Jose, as detailed below. Registration is required, and early registration is recommended because seating is limited. There is no fee to register for any of the roundtables, and registration will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration on the day of the roundtables will be permitted on a space-available basis beginning 30 minutes before each roundtable. To register, please send an email message to [email protected] and provide the following information: (1) Your name, title, and if applicable, company or organization, address, phone number, and email address; and (2) which roundtable you wish to attend. Each attendee, even if from the same organization, must register separately. If you need special accommodations, e.g., due to a disability, please inform a contact person identified below. For more information on any of the roundtables, including the agenda for each roundtable and webcast access instructions for the Alexandria roundtable, please visit http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-external-outreach. Detroit Roundtable Detroit Dates: Roundtable Date: The Detroit roundtable will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2016, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) and ending at 11:00 a.m. EST. Registration Deadline: Registration to attend the Detroit roundtable in person or via webcast is requested by December 8, 2016. See the ``Roundtable Registration Information'' section of this notice, or visit http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-external-outreach, for additional details on how to register. Address of Detroit Roundtable: The Detroit roundtable will be held at the USPTO's Midwest Regional Office in the Stroh Building, 300 River Place Drive, Suite 2900, Detroit, MI, 48207. Denver Roundtable Denver Dates: Roundtable Date: The Denver roundtable will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2016, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST) and ending at 12:00 p.m. MST. Registration Deadline: Registration to attend the Denver roundtable is requested by December 8, 2016. See the ``Roundtable Registration Information'' section of this notice, or visit http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-external-outreach, for additional details on how to register. Address of Denver Roundtable: The Denver roundtable will be held at the USPTO's Rocky Mountain Regional Office in the Byron G. Rogers Federal Building, 1961 Stout Street, Longs Peak Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Denver, CO 80296. San Jose Roundtable San Jose Dates: Roundtable Date: The San Jose roundtable will be held on Wednesday, January 11, 2017, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) and ending at 3:00 p.m. PST. Registration Deadline: Registration to attend the San Jose roundtable is requested by January 4, 2017. See the ``Roundtable Registration Information'' section of this notice, or visit http://www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-external-outreach, for additional details on how to register. Address of San Jose Roundtable: The San Jose roundtable will be held at the San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara Street, San Jose, CA 95113. Dated: November 22, 2016. Michelle K. Lee, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2016-28689 Filed 11-29-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 230 / Wednesday, November 30, 2016 / Notices 86323
(1) Prohibit the import of ‘‘Schedule that implementation of the Chemical DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
1’’ chemicals from States not Party to Weapons Convention, through the
the Convention (15 CFR 712.2(b)); Chemical Weapons Convention United States Patent and Trademark
(2) Require annual declarations by Implementation Act and the Chemical Office
certain facilities engaged in the Weapons Convention Regulations, has [Docket No. PTO–P–2016–0051]
production of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals had on commercial activities involving
in excess of 100 grams aggregate per ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals during calendar Notice of Roundtables and Extension
calendar year (i.e., declared ‘‘Schedule year 2016. To allow BIS to properly of the Period for Comments on
1’’ facilities) for purposes not prohibited evaluate the significance of any harm to Examination Time Goals
by the Convention (15 CFR 712.5(a)(1)
commercial activities involving
and (a)(2)); AGENCY: United States Patent and
(3) Provide for government approval ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals, public
Trademark Office, Commerce.
of ‘‘declared Schedule 1’’ facilities (15 comments submitted in response to this
ACTION: Notice of public roundtables
CFR 712.5(f)); notice of inquiry should include both a
quantitative and qualitative assessment and extension of the comment period.
(4) Provide that ‘‘declared Schedule
1’’ facilities are subject to initial and of the impact of the CWC on such SUMMARY: The United States Patent and
routine inspection by the Organization activities. Trademark Office (Office or USPTO)
for the Prohibition of Chemical previously announced information for
Submission of Comments
Weapons (15 CFR 712.5(e) and roundtables in Alexandria, Virginia, and
716.1(b)(1)); All comments must be submitted to Dallas, Texas, to solicit public feedback
(5) Require 200 days advance one of the addresses indicated in this as part of an effort to reevaluate its
notification of establishment of new notice. The Department requires that all examination time goals. Examination
‘‘Schedule 1’’ production facilities comments be submitted in written form. time goals vary by technology and
producing greater than 100 grams represent the average amount of time
aggregate of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals per The Department encourages interested
that a patent examiner is expected to
calendar year (15 CFR 712.4); persons who wish to comment to do so spend examining a patent application in
(6) Require advance notification and at the earliest possible time. The period a particular technology. The Office now
annual reporting of all imports and for submission of comments will close is providing information on the
exports of ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals to, or on December 30, 2016. The Department additional three roundtables that the
from, other States Parties to the will consider all comments received Office will be conducting in Detroit,
Convention (15 CFR 712.6, 742.18(a)(1) before the close of the comment period. Michigan; Denver, Colorado; and San
and 745.1); and Comments received after the end of the Jose, California. In addition, the Office
(7) Prohibit the export of ‘‘Schedule comment period may not be considered. is extending the written comment
1’’ chemicals to States not Party to the The Department will not accept period to ensure that all stakeholders
Convention (15 CFR 742.18(a)(1) and comments accompanied by a request have sufficient opportunity to submit
(b)(1)(ii)). that a part or all of the material be comments on the reevaluation of the
For purposes of the CWCR (see 15 treated confidentially because of its Office’s examination time goals.
CFR 710.1), ‘‘production of a Schedule
business proprietary nature or for any DATES: Written Comments Deadline: To
1 chemical’’ means the formation of
other reason. The Department will be ensured of consideration, written
‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals through
chemical synthesis, as well as return such comments and materials to comments must be received on or before
processing to extract and isolate the persons submitting the comments January 30, 2017.
‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals produced and will not consider them. All ADDRESSES: Written comments should
biologically. Such production is comments submitted in response to this be sent by electronic mail addressed to
understood, for CWCR declaration notice will be a matter of public record ExternalExaminationTimeStudy@
purposes, to include intermediates, by- and will be available for public USPTO.gov. Comments also may be
products, or waste products that are inspection and copying. submitted by postal mail addressed to:
produced and consumed within a The Office of Administration, Bureau Mail Stop Comments—Patents,
defined chemical manufacturing of Industry and Security, U.S. Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box
sequence, where such intermediates, by- Department of Commerce, displays 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450,
products, or waste products are public comments on the BIS Freedom of marked to the attention of Raul Tamayo,
chemically stable and therefore exist for Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent
Information Act (FOIA) Web site at
a sufficient time to make isolation from Legal Administration, Office of the
http://www.bis.doc.gov/foia. This office
the manufacturing stream possible, but Deputy Commissioner for Patent
does not maintain a separate public Examination Policy.
where, under normal or design inspection facility. If you have technical
operating conditions, isolation does not Although comments may be
difficulties accessing this Web site, submitted by postal mail, the Office
occur.
please call BIS’s Office of prefers to receive comments by
Request for Comments Administration, at (202) 482–1093, for electronic mail in order to facilitate
In order to assist in determining assistance. posting on the USPTO’s Internet Web
whether the legitimate commercial Dated: November 23, 2016. site (http://www.uspto.gov). Electronic
activities and interests of chemical, comments may be submitted in plain
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Kevin J. Wolf,
biotechnology, and pharmaceutical text, ADOBE® portable document
Assistant Secretary for Export
firms in the United States are Administration.
format, or MICROSOFT WORD® format.
significantly harmed by the limitations Comments not submitted electronically
[FR Doc. 2016–28799 Filed 11–29–16; 8:45 am]
of the Convention on access to, and should be submitted on paper in a
production of, ‘‘Schedule 1’’ chemicals BILLING CODE 3510–33–P format that facilitates digital scanning
as described in this notice, BIS is into ADOBE® portable document
seeking public comments on any effects format.
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![86324 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 230 / Wednesday, November 30, 2016 / Notices
The comments will be available for extending the period for submission of Registration Deadline: Registration to
viewing via the USPTO’s Internet Web written comments until January 30, attend the Detroit roundtable in person
site (http://www.uspto.gov). The 2017. or via webcast is requested by December
comments also will be available for Please visit http://www.uspto.gov/ 8, 2016. See the ‘‘Roundtable
public inspection at the Office of the patent/initiatives/eta-external-outreach Registration Information’’ section of this
Commissioner for Patents, currently for more information on the notice, or visit http://www.uspto.gov/
located in Madison East, Tenth Floor, reevaluation of the Office’s examination patent/initiatives/eta-external-outreach,
600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia time goals. The Web page includes: for additional details on how to register.
22314. Because the comments will be Dates and registration information for
made publicly available, information the roundtables; information on how to Address of Detroit Roundtable: The
that the submitter does not desire to use IdeaScale® to comment on Detroit roundtable will be held at the
make public, such as an address or examination time goals; and information USPTO’s Midwest Regional Office in
phone number, should not be included to help inform public comments the Stroh Building, 300 River Place
in the comments. responsive to the October 25, 2016 Drive, Suite 2900, Detroit, MI, 48207.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Federal Register Notice requesting
comments, such as background material Denver Roundtable
Roundtable information, including
roundtable registration information: illustrating the use of examination time Denver Dates: Roundtable Date: The
Elizabeth Magargel, Strategic Planning goals in the context of individual Denver roundtable will be held on
Project Manager, Office of the Assistant examiner evaluation, and as an input Thursday, December 15, 2016,
Deputy Commissioner for Patent into the model used to forecast beginning at 10:00 a.m. Mountain
Operations, by telephone at (571) 270– pendency and hiring needs. The Office
Standard Time (MST) and ending at
7248. plans to use the public feedback it
receives as an input to help ensure that 12:00 p.m. MST.
Written comments: Raul Tamayo,
the Office’s examination time goals Registration Deadline: Registration to
Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent
accurately reflect the amount of time attend the Denver roundtable is
Legal Administration, Office of the
needed by examiners to conduct quality requested by December 8, 2016. See the
Deputy Commissioner for Patent
Examination Policy, by telephone at examination in a manner that responds ‘‘Roundtable Registration Information’’
to stakeholders’ interests. section of this notice, or visit http://
(571) 272–7728.
Detroit, Denver, and San Jose www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-
Examination time goals: Daniel
Roundtable Registration Information: external-outreach, for additional details
Sullivan, Director Technology Center
Roundtables will be conducted in on how to register.
1600, by telephone at (571) 272–0900.
Detroit, Denver, and San Jose, as
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In a detailed below. Registration is required, Address of Denver Roundtable: The
Federal Register Notice, Request for and early registration is recommended Denver roundtable will be held at the
Comments on Examination Time Goals, because seating is limited. There is no USPTO’s Rocky Mountain Regional
81 FR 73383 (Oct. 25, 2016), the Office fee to register for any of the roundtables, Office in the Byron G. Rogers Federal
solicited written comments on the and registration will be on a first-come, Building, 1961 Stout Street, Longs Peak
reevaluation of the Office’s examination first-served basis. Registration on the Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Denver,
time goals. In addition to accepting day of the roundtables will be permitted CO 80296.
public feedback through the submission on a space-available basis beginning 30
of written comments, the Office San Jose Roundtable
minutes before each roundtable.
provided increased interactive To register, please send an email San Jose Dates: Roundtable Date: The
participation through IdeaScale®, a message to ExternalExaminationTime San Jose roundtable will be held on
Web-based collaboration tool that Study@USPTO.gov and provide the Wednesday, January 11, 2017, beginning
allows users to post comments and following information: (1) Your name,
interact with the posted comments of at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
title, and if applicable, company or (PST) and ending at 3:00 p.m. PST.
others; and through roundtables in organization, address, phone number,
Alexandria, Detroit, Denver, Dallas, and and email address; and (2) which Registration Deadline: Registration to
San Jose. The October 25, 2016 Federal roundtable you wish to attend. Each attend the San Jose roundtable is
Register Notice provided dates and attendee, even if from the same requested by January 4, 2017. See the
other information for the Alexandria organization, must register separately. If ‘‘Roundtable Registration Information’’
and Dallas roundtables. The October 25, you need special accommodations, e.g., section of this notice, or visit http://
2016 Federal Register Notice indicated due to a disability, please inform a www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-
that dates and other information for the contact person identified below. external-outreach, for additional details
roundtables to be conducted in Detroit, For more information on any of the on how to register.
Denver, and San Jose would be roundtables, including the agenda for
forthcoming. Address of San Jose Roundtable: The
each roundtable and webcast access
The Office now provides dates and San Jose roundtable will be held at the
instructions for the Alexandria
other information for the roundtables to San Jose City Hall, 200 E. Santa Clara
roundtable, please visit http://
be conducted in Detroit, Denver, and Street, San Jose, CA 95113.
www.uspto.gov/patent/initiatives/eta-
San Jose. external-outreach. Dated: November 22, 2016.
The San Jose roundtable has been
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Detroit Roundtable Michelle K. Lee,
scheduled for January 11, 2017, which
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual
is after the written comment deadline Detroit Dates: Roundtable Date: The Property and Director of the United States
set forth in the October 25, 2016 Federal Detroit roundtable will be held on Patent and Trademark Office.
Register Notice. To ensure that all Thursday, December 15, 2016, [FR Doc. 2016–28689 Filed 11–29–16; 8:45 am]
roundtable attendees also have the beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
opportunity to provide written Time (EST) and ending at 11:00 a.m.
comments, the Office hereby is EST.
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Document Created: 2016-11-30 02:17:56
Document Modified: 2016-11-30 02:17:56
| 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 roundtables and extension of the comment period. | |
| Dates | Written Comments Deadline: To be ensured of consideration, written comments must be received on or before January 30, 2017. | |
| Contact | Roundtable information, including roundtable registration information: Elizabeth Magargel, Strategic Planning Project Manager, Office of the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Patent Operations, by telephone at (571) 270-7248. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 86323 |
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