82 FR 52889 - Patent and Trademark Financial Transactions
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 219 (November 15, 2017)
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 219 (November 15, 2017)
| Page Range | 52889-52890 | |
| FR Document | 2017-24693 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 219 (Wednesday, November 15, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 52889-52890] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-24693] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent and Trademark Financial Transactions ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on a proposed extension of an existing information collection. DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 16, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Include ``0651- 0043 comment'' in the subject line of the message. Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Information Governance Division Director, Office of the Chief Technology 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 Matthew Lee, Office of Finance by email to [email protected] with ``0651-0043 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 Customers may submit payments to the USPTO by several methods, including credit card, deposit account, electronic funds transfer (EFT), and paper check transactions. The provisions of 35 U.S.C. 41 and 15 U.S.C. 1113 are implemented in 37 CFR 1.16-1.28, 2.6-2.7, and 2.206- 2.209. Under 35 U.S.C. 41 and 15 U.S.C. 1113, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) charges processing fees in the form of service charges related to deposit accounts and payments refused. This information collection includes the Credit Card Payment Form (PTO-2038), which provides the public with a convenient way to submit a credit card payment for fees related to a patent, trademark, or information product. Customers may also submit credit card payments via the USPTO Payment Page when using online systems through the USPTO Web site for paying fees related to patents, trademarks, or information products. Customers may establish a deposit account for making fee payments online using Financial Manager at the USPTO Web site. Deposit accounts eliminate the need to submit a check, credit card, or other form of payment for each fee transaction with the USPTO. Additionally, in the event that a fee amount due is miscalculated, customers may authorize the USPTO to charge any remaining balance to the deposit account and therefore avoid the potential consequences of underpayment. As customers use their deposit accounts to make payments, they may deposit funds to replenish their accounts by mailing a check to the USPTO, sending funds via wire transfer, or making a deposit online via EFT using Financial Manager at the USPTO Web site. Replenishments may not be made by credit card. Customers may close or withdraw funds from their deposit accounts online using Financial Manager at the USPTO Web site. In addition to credit cards and deposit accounts, customers may also use EFT to make online fee payments to the USPTO. Customers must first establish a user profile and submit their banking information online through Financial Manager at the USPTO Web site. Under 37 CFR 1.26 and 2.209, the USPTO may refund fees paid by mistake or in excess of the required amount. For refund requests customers may submit a written request to the Refund Branch of the USPTO Office of Finance. The USPTO deployed the Financial Manager system allowing customers to add, manage, and report on payment methods in their online user profiles at the USPTO Web site. After establishing a USPTO.gov account username and password, customers may add their credit card, deposit account, and EFT information to their account using the Financial Manager web interface. Customers may then manage and report on these stored payment methods online. The stored payment methods may be used when the customer conducts transactions with the USPTO. II. Method of Collection By mail, facsimile, hand delivery, or electronically to the USPTO. III. Data OMB Number: 0651-0043. IC Instruments and Forms: PTO-2038. Type of Review: Extension of a Previously Existing Information Collection. Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-profits; and not-for-profit institutions. Estimated Number of Respondents: 118,796 responses per year. Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the public approximately two to seven minutes (0.03 to 0.12 hours) to gather the necessary information, prepare the appropriate form or document, and submit the items in this collection to the USPTO. Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 4,395.83 hours. Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: $293,993.33. The USPTO expects that 75% of the submission in this this collection will be prepared by financial administrators and that 25% will be prepared by [[Page 52890]] paraprofessionals/paralegals. The mean hourly rate for financial administrator is $40.84 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics program (OES 15-1141). The mean hourly rate for paralegals is $145 according to the 2016 compensation survey by the National Association of Legal Assistants. Using those proportions and the estimated rates of $40.84 per hour for financial administrators and $145 per hour for paraprofessionals, the USPTO estimates that the average rate for all respondents will be approximately $66.88 per hour. Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the respondent cost burden for submitting the information in this collection will be approximately $293,993.33 per year. (a) (b) (a) x (b)/60 = (d) (c) x (d) = (e) (c) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1........................... Credit Card Payment Form... 2 87,874 2,929.13 66.88 $195,900.44 (PTO-2038)................. 2........................... Deposit Account 2 20,843 694.77 66.88 46,465.99 Replenishment. 3........................... Refund Request............. 4 8,079 538.60 66.88 36,021.57 4........................... Financial Manager Stored 7 2,000 233.33 66.88 15,605.33 Payment Methods. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total................... ........................... ................. 118,796 4,395.83 ................. 293,993.33 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $112,725.00. There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or recordkeeping costs associated with this information collection. However, this collection does have annual (non-hour) cost burden in the form of service fees associated with deposit accounts and returned payments as well as postage costs. In addition to the fee information discussed here, information about the deposit account rules is available through the USPTO Web site at: https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/fees-and-payment/deposit-account-rules-and-information There are service fees for not maintaining the minimum balance required for the deposit account and for returned payments. There is a $25 service charge for deposit accounts that are below the minimum balance at the end of the month. The USPTO estimates that it assesses 3,600 of these low balance charges annually, for a total of $90,000 per year. There is also a $50 service charge for processing a payment refused (including a check returned ``unpaid'') or charged back by a financial institution. The USPTO estimates that it assesses 128 of these returned payment charges annually, for a total of $6,400 per year. The total estimated service fees for this collection are $96,400 per year. Customers may incur postage costs when submitting the Credit Card Payment Form and other paper forms or requests to the USPTO by mail. Customers generally send the Credit Card Payment Form to the USPTO along with other documents related to the fee or service being paid for by credit card, but some customers may submit just the Credit Card Payment Form without additional supporting documents. The USPTO estimates that roughly 5 percent of the 87,874 paper Credit Card Payment Forms submitted annually may be mailed in; approximately 4,394 per year. The USPTO estimates that it will receive an additional 28,922 mailed submissions per year, including Deposit Account Replenishments and Refund Requests, for a total of 33,316 mailed submissions per year. The USPTO estimates that the first-class postage cost for a mailed submission will be $0.49, for a total postage cost of approximately $16,324.84 per year. The total annual (non-hour) respondent cost burden for this collection in the form of service fees and postage costs is estimated to be approximately $112,724.84 per year. IV. Request for Comments 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. Comments are invited on: (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. Ivan King, Acting Director, Records and Information Governance Division, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 2017-24693 Filed 11-14-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 15, 2017 / Notices 52889
the Queets coho salmon stock on the ADDRESSES: You may submit comments their accounts by mailing a check to the
Washington coast, and the Skagit coho by any of the following methods: USPTO, sending funds via wire transfer,
salmon stock in Puget Sound are all • Email: InformationCollection@ or making a deposit online via EFT
approaching an overfished condition. uspto.gov. Include ‘‘0651–0043 using Financial Manager at the USPTO
These determinations are made when comment’’ in the subject line of the Web site. Replenishments may not be
the 3-year geometric mean of each message. made by credit card. Customers may
stock’s two most recent postseason • Federal Rulemaking Portal: http:// close or withdraw funds from their
estimates of spawning escapement and www.regulations.gov. deposit accounts online using Financial
the current preseason forecast of • Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records and Manager at the USPTO Web site.
spawning escapement is below the Information Governance Division In addition to credit cards and deposit
stock’s minimum stock size threshold Director, Office of the Chief Technology accounts, customers may also use EFT
(MSST). The determination for Chinook Officer, United States Patent and to make online fee payments to the
is based on a 2017 assessment—using Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, USPTO. Customers must first establish
data from 2015–2017—produced by the Alexandria, VA 22313–1450. a user profile and submit their banking
Pacific Council’s STT using FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: information online through Financial
methodologies that have been reviewed Requests for additional information Manager at the USPTO Web site.
by the Pacific Council’s Science and should be directed to Matthew Lee, Under 37 CFR 1.26 and 2.209, the
Statistical Committee. The Office of Finance by email to USPTO may refund fees paid by mistake
determinations for the two coho stocks Matthew.Lee@uspto.gov with ‘‘0651– or in excess of the required amount. For
are based on a 2017 assessment—using 0043 comment’’ in the subject line. refund requests customers may submit a
data from 2014–2015, 2017—produced Additional information about this written request to the Refund Branch of
by the Commission’s Coho Technical collection is also available at http:// the USPTO Office of Finance.
Committee. NMFS informed the Pacific www.reginfo.gov under ‘‘Information The USPTO deployed the Financial
Council that if any of these stocks Collection Review.’’ Manager system allowing customers to
become overfished, they must direct the add, manage, and report on payment
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
STT to prepare a rebuilding plan within methods in their online user profiles at
one year. Due to the international I. Abstract the USPTO Web site. After establishing
management of the coho stocks, the a USPTO.gov account username and
Customers may submit payments to
Pacific Council has limited ability to password, customers may add their
the USPTO by several methods,
control ocean fisheries in waters outside credit card, deposit account, and EFT
including credit card, deposit account,
their jurisdiction. information to their account using the
NMFS has determined that Puerto electronic funds transfer (EFT), and
paper check transactions. The Financial Manager web interface.
Rico spiny lobster and the Puerto Rico Customers may then manage and report
Triggerfishes and Filefishes Complex provisions of 35 U.S.C. 41 and 15 U.S.C.
1113 are implemented in 37 CFR 1.16– on these stored payment methods
are both still subject to overfishing online. The stored payment methods
because the 2015 landings exceeded the 1.28, 2.6–2.7, and 2.206–2.209. Under
35 U.S.C. 41 and 15 U.S.C. 1113, the may be used when the customer
overfishing limits (OFLs). NMFS is conducts transactions with the USPTO.
working with the Caribbean Fishery United States Patent and Trademark
Management Council to implement Office (USPTO) charges processing fees II. Method of Collection
conservation and management measures in the form of service charges related to
By mail, facsimile, hand delivery, or
to end overfishing on this stock and deposit accounts and payments refused.
electronically to the USPTO.
stock complex. This information collection includes
the Credit Card Payment Form (PTO– III. Data
Dated: November 8, 2017. 2038), which provides the public with OMB Number: 0651–0043.
Emily H. Menashes, a convenient way to submit a credit card IC Instruments and Forms: PTO–2038.
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable payment for fees related to a patent, Type of Review: Extension of a
Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service. trademark, or information product. Previously Existing Information
[FR Doc. 2017–24686 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am] Customers may also submit credit card Collection.
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P payments via the USPTO Payment Page Affected Public: Individuals or
when using online systems through the households; businesses or other for-
USPTO Web site for paying fees related profits; and not-for-profit institutions.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE to patents, trademarks, or information Estimated Number of Respondents:
products. 118,796 responses per year.
United States Patent and Trademark Customers may establish a deposit Estimated Time per Response: The
Office account for making fee payments online USPTO estimates that it will take the
Patent and Trademark Financial using Financial Manager at the USPTO public approximately two to seven
Transactions Web site. Deposit accounts eliminate the minutes (0.03 to 0.12 hours) to gather
need to submit a check, credit card, or the necessary information, prepare the
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment other form of payment for each fee appropriate form or document, and
request. transaction with the USPTO. submit the items in this collection to the
Additionally, in the event that a fee USPTO.
SUMMARY: The United States Patent and amount due is miscalculated, customers
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Estimated Total Annual Respondent
Trademark Office (USPTO), as required may authorize the USPTO to charge any Burden Hours: 4,395.83 hours.
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of remaining balance to the deposit Estimated Total Annual Respondent
1995, invites comments on a proposed account and therefore avoid the (Hourly) Cost Burden: $293,993.33. The
extension of an existing information potential consequences of USPTO expects that 75% of the
collection. underpayment. As customers use their submission in this this collection will
DATES: Written comments must be deposit accounts to make payments, be prepared by financial administrators
submitted on or before January 16, 2018. they may deposit funds to replenish and that 25% will be prepared by
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![52890 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 219 / Wednesday, November 15, 2017 / Notices
paraprofessionals/paralegals. The mean survey by the National Association of will be approximately $66.88 per hour.
hourly rate for financial administrator is Legal Assistants. Using those Therefore, the USPTO estimates that the
$40.84 according to the Bureau of Labor proportions and the estimated rates of respondent cost burden for submitting
Statistics’ Occupational Employment $40.84 per hour for financial the information in this collection will be
Statistics program (OES 15–1141). The administrators and $145 per hour for approximately $293,993.33 per year.
mean hourly rate for paralegals is $145 paraprofessionals, the USPTO estimates
according to the 2016 compensation that the average rate for all respondents
Estimated time for Estimated annual Estimated annual Rate Total hourly cost
IC No. Item response responses burden hours ($/hr) burden
(minutes)
(a) (b) (a) × (b)/60 = (c) (d) (c) × (d) = (e)
1 ................. Credit Card Payment 2 87,874 2,929.13 66.88 $195,900.44
Form.
(PTO–2038) ...................
2 ................. Deposit Account Replen- 2 20,843 694.77 66.88 46,465.99
ishment.
3 ................. Refund Request ............ 4 8,079 538.60 66.88 36,021.57
4 ................. Financial Manager 7 2,000 233.33 66.88 15,605.33
Stored Payment Meth-
ods.
Total .... ........................................ .............................. 118,796 4,395.83 .............................. 293,993.33
Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) or service being paid for by credit card, (d) Ways to minimize the burden of
Respondent Cost Burden: $112,725.00. but some customers may submit just the the collection of information on
There are no capital start-up, Credit Card Payment Form without respondents, e.g., the use of automated
maintenance, or recordkeeping costs additional supporting documents. The collection techniques or other forms of
associated with this information USPTO estimates that roughly 5 percent information technology.
collection. However, this collection of the 87,874 paper Credit Card Payment
Ivan King,
does have annual (non-hour) cost Forms submitted annually may be
burden in the form of service fees mailed in; approximately 4,394 per year. Acting Director, Records and Information
Governance Division, Office of the Chief
associated with deposit accounts and The USPTO estimates that it will
Information Officer.
returned payments as well as postage receive an additional 28,922 mailed
[FR Doc. 2017–24693 Filed 11–14–17; 8:45 am]
costs. In addition to the fee information submissions per year, including Deposit
Account Replenishments and Refund BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
discussed here, information about the
deposit account rules is available Requests, for a total of 33,316 mailed
through the USPTO Web site at: https:// submissions per year. The USPTO
www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ estimates that the first-class postage cost COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING
fees-and-payment/deposit-account- for a mailed submission will be $0.49, COMMISSION
rules-and-information for a total postage cost of approximately
$16,324.84 per year. Agency Information Collection
There are service fees for not Activities Under OMB Review
maintaining the minimum balance The total annual (non-hour)
required for the deposit account and for respondent cost burden for this AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading
returned payments. There is a $25 collection in the form of service fees and Commission.
service charge for deposit accounts that postage costs is estimated to be
ACTION: Notice.
are below the minimum balance at the approximately $112,724.84 per year.
end of the month. The USPTO estimates IV. Request for Comments SUMMARY: In compliance with the
that it assesses 3,600 of these low Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
Comments submitted in response to (PRA), this notice announces that the
balance charges annually, for a total of this notice will be summarized or
$90,000 per year. There is also a $50 Information Collection Request (ICR)
included in the request for OMB abstracted below has been forwarded to
service charge for processing a payment approval of this information collection;
refused (including a check returned the Office of Management and Budget
they also will become a matter of public (OMB) for review and comment. The
‘‘unpaid’’) or charged back by a record.
financial institution. The USPTO ICR describes the nature of the
Comments are invited on:
estimates that it assesses 128 of these information collection and its expected
(a) Whether the proposed collection of
returned payment charges annually, for costs and burden.
information is necessary for the proper
a total of $6,400 per year. The total performance of the functions of the DATES: Comments must be submitted on
estimated service fees for this collection agency, including whether the or before December 15, 2017.
are $96,400 per year. ADDRESSES: Comments regarding the
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
information shall have practical utility;
Customers may incur postage costs (b) The accuracy of the agency’s burden estimate or any other aspect of
when submitting the Credit Card estimate of the burden (including hours the information collection, including
Payment Form and other paper forms or and cost) of the proposed collection of suggestions for reducing the burden,
requests to the USPTO by mail. information; may be submitted directly to the Office
Customers generally send the Credit (c) Ways to enhance the quality, of Information and Regulatory Affairs
Card Payment Form to the USPTO along utility, and clarity of the information to (OIRA) in OMB within 30 days of this
with other documents related to the fee be collected; and notice’s publication by either of the
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Document Created: 2018-10-25 10:36:07
Document Modified: 2018-10-25 10:36:07
| 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 | Proposed collection; comment request. | |
| Dates | Written comments must be submitted on or before January 16, 2018. | |
| Contact | Requests for additional information should be directed to Matthew Lee, Office of Finance by email to [email protected] with ``0651-0043 comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about this collection is also available at http://www.reginfo.gov under ``Information Collection Review.'' | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 52889 |
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