SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) directly sponsors and organizes events, including research-related initiatives, meetings, workshops, presentations, panels, advisory committees, and outreach events. The USPTO routinely registers attendees for these events. This new generic clearance request will allow the USPTO to provide a quick and efficient process for the approval of registration and application forms for USPTO-sponsored events that go beyond what is necessary to register. This also includes one-time miscellaneous forms that are primarily of an administrative nature and are necessary to achieve mission objectives. The information provided to the USPTO will have no effect on an individual's application for other USPTO programs or benefits.

The USPTO seeks to collect common data from interested respondents such as name, organization, email address, phone number, address, country, state, city or town, special accommodation requests, and how the respondent became aware of the pertinent event or conference. The information will be used by the USPTO to assess attendance, to make logistical arrangements for events such as venue selection and seating, and to enable USPTO staff to adequately prepare and facilitate post-event follow-ups. Additionally, the information will help ensure that participants have an effective, efficient, and satisfying experience with USPTO programs and services. If applicable, the information collection may be used to facilitate respondents' payment for travel and hotel expenses.

As part of this proposed information collection, the USPTO seeks, when applicable, to receive greater feedback from those respondents participating in USPTO programs. To obtain such feedback, the USPTO may solicit or receive other respondent background information such as their group size, sector experience, and experience with USPTO services. Depending on the topic of the program(s), the USPTO may also ask respondents about topics specific to the nature of the USPTO programs and services.

In addition to hosting events, the USPTO also participates in events organized by outside groups such as universities, trade associations, and businesses. As part of this information collection, the USPTO may use speaker invitation forms, questionnaires, and related items to learn more about these organizations and to determine if they will provide beneficial opportunities for the mission and goals of the agency.

This information collection covers a variety of methods used by the USPTO to register or involve the public in its events and programs. The estimated number of annual responses and burden hours requested in this information collection are based on estimates from other Department of Commerce and USPTO generic clearances. Each specific request for clearance under this generic information collection will detail estimates with the following information: respondent types, number of respondents, number of responses, time per response, burden hours, and associated costs.

II. Method of Collection

Items in this information collection may be submitted electronically, by phone, or in paper form by mail, fax, or hand delivery.

III. Data

OMB Control Number: 0651-New.

Forms: None.

Type of Review: New information collection.

Affected Public: Private sector.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

Frequency: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 100,000 respondents.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 100,000 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses in this information collection will take the public approximately 5 minutes (0.08 hours) to complete. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, create the document(s), and submit the completed item to the USPTO.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 8,333 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $2,072,500. The USPTO estimates the hourly cost burden for this information collection uses a blended rate for the respondent cost burden calculations, averaging the rates of attorneys, paralegals, and pro se ( printed page 60602) respondents. Each specific request for clearance under this generic information collection will detail estimates for the hourly cost burden.

The USPTO uses an attorney rate of $550 per hour, which is the average billing rate for intellectual property work in all firms as shown in the 2025 Report of the Economic Survey published by the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).^[1] The hourly rate for paraprofessionals/paralegals is estimated at $134 as shown in the 2024 Utilization and Compensation Survey published by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).^[2] The USPTO derives the pro se wage rate from the mean hourly wage ($62.13) for physical scientists according to the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).^[3]

The combined average of these respondent rates is $248.71. Using this blended hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the total respondent cost burden for this information collection is $2,072,500 per year.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden: $0. Each specific request for clearance under this generic information collection will detail estimates for cost burden. Typically, there will be no non-hourly cost burden on the public.

IV. Request for Comments

The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:

(a) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility;

(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;

(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and

(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who intend to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of public record. The USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information (PII) in a comment, be advised that the entire comment—including PII—may be made publicly available at any time. While one may request in a comment to withhold PII from public view, the USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.

91 FR 60601