83 FR 22963 - Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 96 (May 17, 2018)
Patent and Trademark Office
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 96 (May 17, 2018)
| Page Range | 22963-22964 | |
| FR Document | 2018-10530 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 96 (Thursday, May 17, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 22963-22964] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-10530] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office [Docket No. PTO-P-2018-0038] Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce. ACTION: Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the ``Act''), Public Law 106-113, which, among other things, established two Public Advisory Committees to review the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, and to advise the Director on these matters. The America Invents Act Technical Corrections Act made several amendments to the 1999 Act, including the requirement that the terms of the USPTO Public Advisory Committee members be realigned by 2014, so that December 1 be used as the start and end date, with terms staggered so that each year three existing terms expire and three new terms begin on December 1. Through this Notice, the USPTO is requesting nominations for up to three (3) members of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and for up to three (3) members of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, for terms of three years that begin on December 1, 2018. DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before July 6, 2018. ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations should send the nominee's resum[eacute] by postal mail to Brendan McCommas, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia, 22313-1450 or by electronic mail to: [email protected] for the Patent Public Advisory Committee, or [email protected] for the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brendan McCommas, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272-8600. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Advisory Committees' duties include:Review and advise the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO on matters relating to policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the USPTO relating to patents and trademarks, respectively; and Within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year: (1) Prepare an annual report on matters listed above; (2) transmit the report to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and (3) publish the report in the Official Gazette of the USPTO. Advisory Committees The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine (9) voting members who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (the ``Secretary'') and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary for three- year terms. Members are eligible for reappointment for a second consecutive three-year term. The Public Advisory Committee members must be citizens of the United States [[Page 22964]] and are chosen to represent the interests of diverse users of the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee. Members must represent small and large entity applicants located in the United States in proportion to the number of applications filed by such applicants. The Committees must include individuals with ``substantial background and achievement in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and office automation.'' 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public Advisory Committees also includes three (3) non-voting members representing each labor organization recognized by the USPTO. Administration policy discourages the appointment of federally registered lobbyists to agency advisory boards and commissions (Lobbyists on Agency Boards and Commissions, http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/lobbyist-agency-boards-and-commissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. Order No. 13490, 74 FR 4673 (January 21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 does not specifically apply to federally registered lobbyists appointed by agency or department heads, it sets forth the Administration's general policy of decreasing the influence of special interests in the Federal Government). Procedures and Guidelines of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Each newly appointed member of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will serve for a three-year term that begins on December 1, 2018, and ends on December 1, 2021. As required by the 1999 Act, members of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees will receive compensation for each day (including travel time) while the member is attending meetings or engaged in the business of that Advisory Committee. The enabling statute states that members are to be compensated at the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of Title 5, United States Code. Committee members are compensated on an hourly basis, calculated at the daily rate. While away from home or regular place of business, each member shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by Section 5703 of Title 5, United States Code. Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws Public Advisory Committee Members are Special Government Employees within the meaning of Section 202 of Title 18, United States Code. The following additional information includes several, but not all, of the ethics rules that apply to members, and assumes that members are not engaged in Public Advisory Committee business more than 60 days during any period of 365 consecutive days. Each member will be required to file a confidential financial disclosure form within thirty (30) days of appointment. 5 CFR 2634.202(c), 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b). Each member will be subject to many of the public integrity laws, including criminal bars against representing a party in a particular matter that came before the member's committee and that involved at least one specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also 18 U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. A member also must not act on a matter in which the member (or any of certain closely related entities) has a financial interest. 18 U.S.C. 208. Representation of foreign interests may also raise issues. 35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. 219. Meetings of the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees Meetings of each Advisory Committee will take place at the call of the respective Committee Chair to consider an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings may be conducted in person, telephonically, on-line through the internet, or by other appropriate means. The meetings of each Advisory Committee will be open to the public except each Advisory Committee may, by majority vote, meet in executive session when considering personnel, privileged, or other confidential information. Nominees must have the ability to participate in Committee business through the internet. Dated: May 9, 2018. Andrei Iancu, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2018-10530 Filed 5-16-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2018 / Notices 22963
Dated: May 11, 2018. successful as possible, and outreach several amendments to the 1999 Act,
Sarah Brabson, efforts are targeting the intended including the requirement that the terms
Management Analyst, Office of the Chief recipients with useful information. of the USPTO Public Advisory
Information Officer. Committee members be realigned by
II. Method of Collection
[FR Doc. 2018–10479 Filed 5–16–18; 8:45 am] 2014, so that December 1 be used as the
BILLING CODE 3510–22–P
Information will be collected in the start and end date, with terms staggered
means most efficient and effective in the so that each year three existing terms
individual jurisdiction. For the three expire and three new terms begin on
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE years covered by this clearance we December 1. Through this Notice, the
expect to use face-to-face interviews in USPTO is requesting nominations for up
National Oceanic and Atmospheric American Samoa, and as appropriate, to three (3) members of the Patent
Administration face-to-face, telephone and/or internet- Public Advisory Committee, and for up
based survey techniques in Hawaii and to three (3) members of the Trademark
Submission for OMB Review; Florida, Commonwealth of the Northern Public Advisory Committee, for terms of
Comment Request Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, three years that begin on December 1,
The Department of Commerce will and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 2018.
Affected Public: Individuals or DATES: Nominations must be
submit to the Office of Management and
households. postmarked or electronically
Budget (OMB) for clearance the Frequency: Every five to seven years.
following proposal for collection of Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. transmitted on or before July 6, 2018.
information under the provisions of the This information collection request ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. may be viewed at reginfo.gov. Follow nominations should send the nominee’s
Chapter 35). the instructions to view Department of resumé by postal mail to Brendan
Agency: National Oceanic and Commerce collections currently under McCommas, Chief of Staff, Office of the
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). review by OMB. Under Secretary of Commerce for
Title: Written comments and Intellectual Property and Director of the
OMB Control Number: 0648–0646. recommendations for the proposed USPTO, Post Office Box 1450,
Form Number(s): None. information collection should be sent Alexandria, Virginia, 22313–1450 or by
Type of Request: Regular (extension of within 30 days of publication of this electronic mail to: PPACnominations@
a currently approved information notice to OIRA_Submission@ uspto.gov for the Patent Public Advisory
collection). omb.eop.gov or fax to (202) 395–5806. Committee, or TPACnominations@
Number of Respondents: 1,765. uspto.gov for the Trademark Public
Dated: May 11, 2018.
Average Hours per Response: 20 Advisory Committee.
Sarah Brabson,
minutes. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Burden Hours: 652. NOAA PRA Clearance Officer. Brendan McCommas, Chief of Staff,
Needs and Uses: This request is for [FR Doc. 2018–10478 Filed 5–16–18; 8:45 am] Office of the Under Secretary of
extension of a currently approved BILLING CODE 3510–JS–P Commerce for Intellectual Property and
information collection. Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272–
The purpose of this information 8600.
collection is to obtain information from DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
individuals in the seven United States Advisory Committees’ duties include:
Patent and Trademark Office
(U.S.) jurisdictions containing coral • Review and advise the Under
reefs. Specifically, NOAA is seeking [Docket No. PTO–P–2018–0038] Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual
information on the knowledge, attitudes Property and Director of the USPTO on
and reef use patterns, as well as Patent and Trademark Public Advisory
Committees matters relating to policies, goals,
information on knowledge and attitudes performance, budget, and user fees of
related to specific reef protection AGENCY: United States Patent and the USPTO relating to patents and
activities. In addition, this survey will Trademark Office, Commerce. trademarks, respectively; and
provide for the ongoing collection of ACTION: Notice and request for • Within 60 days after the end of each
social and economic data related to the nominations for the Patent and fiscal year: (1) Prepare an annual report
communities affected by coral reef Trademark Public Advisory on matters listed above; (2) transmit the
conservation programs. Committees. report to the Secretary of Commerce, the
The Coral Reef Conservation Program President, and the Committees on the
(CRCP), developed under the authority SUMMARY: On November 29, 1999, the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of
of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of President signed into law the Patent and Representatives; and (3) publish the
2000, is responsible for programs Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the report in the Official Gazette of the
intended to enhance the conservation of ‘‘Act’’), Public Law 106–113, which, USPTO.
coral reefs. We intend to use the among other things, established two
information collected through this Public Advisory Committees to review Advisory Committees
instrument for research purposes as well the policies, goals, performance, budget The Public Advisory Committees are
as measuring and improving the results and user fees of the United States Patent each composed of nine (9) voting
of our reef protection programs. Because and Trademark Office (USPTO) with members who are appointed by the
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
many of our efforts to protect reefs rely respect to patents, in the case of the Secretary of Commerce (the ‘‘Secretary’’)
on education and changing attitudes Patent Public Advisory Committee, and and serve at the pleasure of the
toward reef protection, the information with respect to trademarks, in the case Secretary for three-year terms. Members
collected will allow CRCP staff to of the Trademark Public Advisory are eligible for reappointment for a
ensure programs are designed Committee, and to advise the Director second consecutive three-year term. The
appropriately at the start, future on these matters. The America Invents Public Advisory Committee members
program evaluation efforts are as Act Technical Corrections Act made must be citizens of the United States
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![22964 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 96 / Thursday, May 17, 2018 / Notices
and are chosen to represent the interests Applicability of Certain Ethics Laws DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
of diverse users of the United States
Patent and Trademark Office with Public Advisory Committee Members Department of the Air Force
respect to patents, in the case of the are Special Government Employees
[Docket ID: USAF–2018–HQ–0002]
Patent Public Advisory Committee, and within the meaning of Section 202 of
with respect to trademarks, in the case Title 18, United States Code. The Proposed Collection; Comment
of the Trademark Public Advisory following additional information Request
Committee. Members must represent includes several, but not all, of the
small and large entity applicants located ethics rules that apply to members, and AGENCY: Department of the Air Force,
assumes that members are not engaged DoD.
in the United States in proportion to the
number of applications filed by such in Public Advisory Committee business ACTION: Information collection notice.
applicants. The Committees must more than 60 days during any period of
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
include individuals with ‘‘substantial 365 consecutive days.
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
background and achievement in finance, • Each member will be required to Department of the Air Force announces
management, labor relations, science, file a confidential financial disclosure a proposed public information
technology, and office automation.’’ 35 form within thirty (30) days of collection and seeks public comment on
U.S.C. 5(b)(3). Each of the Public appointment. 5 CFR 2634.202(c), the provisions thereof. Comments are
Advisory Committees also includes 2634.204, 2634.903, and 2634.904(b). invited on whether the proposed
three (3) non-voting members collection of information is necessary
• Each member will be subject to
representing each labor organization for the proper performance of the
recognized by the USPTO. many of the public integrity laws,
including criminal bars against functions of the agency, including
Administration policy discourages the whether the information shall have
appointment of federally registered representing a party in a particular
practical utility; the accuracy of the
lobbyists to agency advisory boards and matter that came before the member’s
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
commissions (Lobbyists on Agency committee and that involved at least one
proposed information collection; ways
Boards and Commissions, http:// specific party. 18 U.S.C. 205(c); see also to enhance the quality, utility, and
www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2009/09/23/ 18 U.S.C. 207 for post-membership bars. clarity of the information to be
lobbyist-agency-boards-and- A member also must not act on a matter collected; and ways to minimize the
commissions (Sept. 23, 2009)); cf. Exec. in which the member (or any of certain burden of the information collection on
Order No. 13490, 74 FR 4673 (January closely related entities) has a financial respondents, including through the use
21, 2009) (While Executive Order 13490 interest. 18 U.S.C. 208. of automated collection techniques or
does not specifically apply to federally • Representation of foreign interests other forms of information technology.
registered lobbyists appointed by agency may also raise issues. 35 U.S.C. 5(a)(1) DATES: Consideration will be given to all
or department heads, it sets forth the and 18 U.S.C. 219. comments received by July 16, 2018.
Administration’s general policy of ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
decreasing the influence of special Meetings of the Patent and Trademark
identified by docket number and title,
interests in the Federal Government). Public Advisory Committees
by any of the following methods:
Procedures and Guidelines of the Meetings of each Advisory Committee Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
Patent and Trademark Public Advisory will take place at the call of the www.regulations.gov. Follow the
Committees respective Committee Chair to consider instructions for submitting comments.
an agenda set by that Chair. Meetings Mail: Department of Defense, Office of
Each newly appointed member of the may be conducted in person, the Chief Management Officer,
Patent and Trademark Public Advisory telephonically, on-line through the Directorate for Oversight and
Committees will serve for a three-year Compliance, 4800 Mark Center Drive,
internet, or by other appropriate means.
term that begins on December 1, 2018, Mailbox #24, Suite 08D09, Alexandria,
The meetings of each Advisory
and ends on December 1, 2021. As VA 22350–1700.
Committee will be open to the public Instructions: All submissions received
required by the 1999 Act, members of
except each Advisory Committee may, must include the agency name, docket
the Patent and Trademark Public
by majority vote, meet in executive number and title for this Federal
Advisory Committees will receive
session when considering personnel, Register document. The general policy
compensation for each day (including
travel time) while the member is privileged, or other confidential for comments and other submissions
attending meetings or engaged in the information. Nominees must have the from members of the public is to make
business of that Advisory Committee. ability to participate in Committee these submissions available for public
The enabling statute states that members business through the internet. viewing on the internet at http://
are to be compensated at the daily Dated: May 9, 2018. www.regulations.gov as they are
equivalent of the annual rate of basic Andrei Iancu,
received without change, including any
pay in effect for level III of the Executive personal identifiers or contact
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual information.
Schedule under section 5314 of Title 5, Property and Director of the United States
United States Code. Committee Patent and Trademark Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: To
members are compensated on an hourly [FR Doc. 2018–10530 Filed 5–16–18; 8:45 am] request more information on this
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
basis, calculated at the daily rate. While proposed information collection or to
BILLING CODE 3510–16–P
away from home or regular place of obtain a copy of the proposal and
business, each member shall be allowed associated collection instruments,
travel expenses, including per diem in please write to the Air Force Office of
lieu of subsistence, as authorized by Scientific Research, ATTN: AFOSR/
Section 5703 of Title 5, United States RTB, 875 North Randolph Street, Suite
Code. 325, Room 3112, Arlington, VA 22203–
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Document Created: 2018-05-17 00:51:33
Document Modified: 2018-05-17 00:51:33
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice and request for nominations for the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees. | |
| Dates | Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before July 6, 2018. | |
| Contact | Brendan McCommas, Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, at (571) 272-8600. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 22963 |
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