# Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Patent Processing
**AGENCY:**
United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce.
**ACTION:**
Notice of information collection; request for comment.
**SUMMARY:**
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-0031 (Patent Processing). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the information collection to OMB.
**DATES:**
To ensure consideration, comments regarding this information collection must be received on or before November 30, 2020.
**ADDRESSES:**
Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
• *Email: [email protected].* Include “0651-0031 comment” in the subject line of the message.
• *Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.*
• *Mail:* Kimberly Hardy, Office of the Chief Administrative 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 Raul Tamayo, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-7728; or by email to *[email protected]* with “0651-0031 comment” in the subject line. Additional information about this information collection is also available at *http://www.reginfo.gov* under “Information Collection Review.”
**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:**
**I. Abstract**
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is required by 35 U.S.C. 131 to examine an application for patent and, when appropriate, issue a patent. The USPTO is also required to publish patent applications, with certain exceptions, promptly after the expiration of a period of 18 months from the earliest filing date for which a benefit is sought under Title 35, United States Code (“eighteen-month publication”). This information collection covers certain situations that may arise which require that additional information be supplied in order for the USPTO to further process the patent or application.
The information in this collection is used by the USPTO to continue the processing of the patent or application to ensure that applicants are complying with the patent regulations and to aid in the prosecution of the application. In addition, this renewal proposes to remove three items related to patent appeals and associate all submissions of those items to an existing information collection (0651-0063, Patent Trial and Appeal Board Appeals). These three items are: Notice of Appeal, Amendment to Cancel Claims During an Appeal, and Request for Oral Hearing.
**II. Method of Collection**
Items in this information collection may be submitted via online electronic submissions. In limited circumstances, applicants may be permitted to submit the information in paper form by mail, fax, or hand delivery.
**III. Data**
*OMB Number:* 0651-0031.
*Form Number(s):* (AIA = American Invents; SB = Specimen Book; PTOL = Patent and Trademark Office Legal)
• PTO/SB/08a/08b (Information Disclosure Statements)
• PTO/SB/21 (Transmittal Form)
• PTO/SB/22 and PTO/AIA/22 (Petitions for Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a))
• PTO/SB/24 and PTO/AIA/24 (Express Abandonment under 37 CFR 1.138)
• PTO/SB/25/26/43/63 (Statutory Disclaimers)
• PTO/SB/27 (Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application)
• PTO/SB/61/64 (Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally)
• PTO/SB/64a (Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or International Filing)
• PTO/SB/67/68 (Requests to Access, Inspect, and Copy)
• PTO/SB/91 (Deposit Account Order Form)
• PTO/SB/92 (Certificates of Mailing or Transmission)
• PTO/SB/96 and PTO/AIA/96 (Statement under 37 CFR 3.73(b))
• PTO/SB/35 (Non-Publication Request)
• PTO/SB/36 (Rescission of Previous Non-Publication Request (35 U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(ii) and, if applicable, Notice of Foreign Filing (35 U.S.C. 122(b)(2)(B)(iii))
• PTO-2053-A/B, PTO-2054-A/B, and PTO-2055-A/B (Copy of the Applicant or Patentee's Record of the Application (including copies of the correspondence, list of the correspondence, and statements verifying whether the record is complete or not))
• PTO/SB/30 (Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal)
• PTO/SB/37 (Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d))
• PTOL/413A (Applicant-Initiated Interview Request Form)
• PTO/SB/17i (Processing Fee under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal)
• PTO/SB/38 (Request to Retrieve Electronic Priority Application(s) under 37 CFR 1.55(d))
• PTO/SB/39 (Authorization or Rescission of Authorization to Permit Access to Application-as-filed by Participating Offices under 37 CFR 1.14(h))
• PTO/SB/24B and PTO/AIA/24B (Petition for Express Abandonment to Obtain a Refund)
• PTO/SB/33 and PTO/AIA/33 (Pre-Appeal Brief Request for Review)
• PTOL-413C (Request for First-Action Interview (Pilot Program))
• PTO/SB/130 (Petition to Make Special Based on Age for Advancement of Examination under 37 CFR 1.102(c)(1))
*Type of Review:* Revision of a currently approved information collection.
*Affected Public:* Private sector; individuals or households.
*Estimated Number of Respondents:* 3,669,397 respondents per year.
*Estimated Number of Responses:* 3,669,397 responses per year.
*Estimated Time per Response:* The USPTO estimates that it will take respondents between 2 minutes (.03 hours) and 8 hours to submit an item in this information collection depending on the instrument used, including the time to gather the necessary information, prepare the appropriate form or petition, and submit the completed request to the USPTO.
*Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours:* 3,187,341 hours.
*Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden:* $842,416,575.
| Item No. | Item | Estimated | Estimated | Estimated | Estimated | Rate | Estimated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | | (a) | (b) | (a) × (b) = c | (d) | (c) × (d) = e |
| 1 | Information Disclosure Statements that require the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) | 624,824 | 624,824 | 2 | 1,249,648 | $400 | $499,859,200 |
| 2 | Transmittal Form | 663,023 | 663,023 | 2 | 1,326,046 | 145 | 192,276,670 |
| 3 | Petition for Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) | 252,184 | 252,184 | .3 (18 minutes) | 75,655 | 145 | 10,969,975 |
| 4 | Express Abandonment under 37 CFR 1.138 | 1,838 | 1,838 | .25 (15 minutes) | 460 | 145 | 66,700 |
| 5 | Statutory Disclaimers (including terminal disclaimers) | 57,891 | 57,891 | .25 (15 minutes) | 14,473 | 400 | 5,789,200 |
| 6 | Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application | 1,034 | 1,034 | .25 (15 minutes) | 259 | 400 | 103,600 |
| 7 | Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally | 7,666 | 7,666 | 1 | 7,666 | 400 | 3,066,400 |
| 8 | Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or International Filing | 140 | 140 | 1 | 140 | 400 | 56,000 |
| 9 | Requests to Access, Inspect and Copy | 824,500 | 824,500 | .25 (15 minutes) | 206,125 | 145 | 29,888,125 |
| 10 | Deposit Account Order Form | 64,460 | 64,460 | .25 (15 minutes) | 16,115 | 145 | 2,336,675 |
| 11 | Certificates of Mailing or Transmission | 582,000 | 582,000 | .03 (2 minutes) | 17,460 | 145 | 2,531,700 |
| 12 | Statement Under 37 CFR 3.73(c) | 172,469 | 172,469 | .25 (15 minutes) | 43,117 | 400 | 17,246,900 |
| 13 | Non-publication Request | 21,340 | 21,340 | .25 (15 minutes) | 5,335 | 400 | 2,134,000 |
| 14 | Rescission of Previous Non-publication Request (35 U.S.C. § 122(b)(2)(B)(ii) and, if applicable, Notice of Foreign Filing (35 U.S.C. § 122(b)(2)(B)(iii) | 2,134 | 2,134 | .25 (15 minutes) | 534 | 400 | 213,600 |
| 15 | Electronic Filing System (EFS) Copy of Application for Publication | 1 | 1 | 2.5 | 3 | 145 | 435 |
| 16 | Copy of File Content Showing Redactions | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 400 | 1,600 |
| 17 | Copy of the Applicant or Patentee's Record of the Application (including copies of the correspondence, list of the correspondence, and statements verifying whether the record is complete or not) | 6 | 6 | 2 | 12 | 145 | 1,740 |
| 18 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal | 154,766 | 154,766 | .3 (18 minutes) | 46,430 | 400 | 18,572,000 |
| 19 | Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d) | 832 | 832 | .2 (12 minutes) | 166 | 400 | 66,400 |
| 20 | Request for Voluntary Publication or Republication (includes publication fee for republication) | 134 | 134 | .2 (12 minutes) | 27 | 145 | 3,915 |
| 21 | Applicant Initiated Interview Request Form | 30,557 | 30,557 | .4 (24 minutes) | 12,223 | 400 | 4,889,200 |
| 22 | Processing Fee Under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal | 119 | 119 | .08 (5 minutes) | 10 | 400 | 4,000 |
| 23 | Request to Retrieve Electronic Priority Application (s) Under 37 CFR 1.55(h) | 5,858 | 5,858 | .25 (15 minutes) | 1,465 | 400 | 585,600 |
| 24 | Authorization or Rescission of Authorization to Permit Access to Application-as-filed by Participating Offices Under 37 CFR 1.14(h) | 7,747 | 7,747 | .25 (15 minutes) | 1,937 | 400 | 774,800 |
| 25 | Petition for Express Abandonment to Obtain a Refund | 1,827 | 1,827 | .2 (12 minutes) | 365 | 400 | 146,000 |
| 26 | Pre-Appeal Brief Request for Review | 7,760 | 7,760 | 5 | 38,800 | 400 | 15,520,000 |
| 27 | Request for Corrected Filing Receipt | 42,089 | 42,089 | .08 (5 minutes) | 3,367 | 145 | 488,215 |
| 28 | Request for First Action Interview (Pilot Program) (Electronic only) | 2,026 | 2,026 | 2.5 | 5,065 | 400 | 2,026,000 |
| 29 | Petition to Make Special Based on Age for Advancement of Examination under 37 CFR 1.102(c)(1) (EFS-Web only) | 1,471 | 1,471 | 2 | 2,942 | 400 | 1,176,800 |
| 30 | Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR 1.129(a)) | 93 | 93 | 8 | 744 | 400 | 297,600 |
| 31 | Correction of inventorship after first office action on the merits | 2,910 | 2,910 | .75 (45 minutes) | 2,183 | 400 | 873,200 |
| 32 | Request for correction in a patent application relating to inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names, other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48) | 14,216 | 14,216 | .75 (45 minutes) | 10,662 | 400 | 4,264,800 |
| 33 | Request to correct or update the name of the applicant under 37 CFR 1.46(c)(1), or change the applicant under 37 CFR 1.46(c)(2) | 11,398 | 11,398 | .2 (12 minutes) | 2,280 | 400 | 912,000 |
| Total | | 3,559,314 | 3,559,314 | | 3,091,718 | | 817,143,050 |
| Item No. | Item | Estimated | Estimated | Estimated | Estimated | Rate | Estimated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | | (a) | (b) | (a) × (b) = c | (d) | (c) × (d) = e |
| 1 | Information Disclosure Statements that require the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) | 19,324 | 19,324 | 2 | 38,648 | $400 | $15,459,200 |
| 2 | Transmittal Form | 20,506 | 20,506 | 2 | 41,012 | 145 | 5,946,740 |
| 3 | Petition for Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) | 7,800 | 7,800 | .3 (18 minutes) | 2,340 | 145 | 339,300 |
| 4 | Express Abandonment under 37 CFR 1.138 | 57 | 57 | .25 (15 minutes) | 14 | 145 | 2,030 |
| 5 | Statutory Disclaimers (including terminal disclaimers) | 1,790 | 1,790 | .25 (15 minutes) | 448 | 400 | 179,200 |
| 6 | Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application | 32 | 32 | .25 (15 minutes) | 8 | 400 | 3,200 |
| 7 | Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally | 237 | 237 | 1 | 237 | 400 | 94,800 |
| 8 | Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned for Failure to Notify the Office of a Foreign or International Filing | 4 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 400 | 1,600 |
| 9 | Requests to Access, Inspect and Copy | 25,500 | 25,500 | .25 (15 minutes) | 6,375 | 145 | 924,375 |
| 10 | Deposit Account Order Form | 1,994 | 1,994 | .25 (15 minutes) | 499 | 145 | 72,355 |
| 11 | Certificates of Mailing or Transmission | 18,000 | 18,000 | .03 (2 minutes) | 540 | 145 | 78,300 |
| 12 | Statement Under 37 CFR 3.73(c) | 5,334 | 5,334 | .25 (15 minutes) | 1,334 | 400 | 533,600 |
| 13 | Non-publication Request | 660 | 660 | .25 (15 minutes) | 165 | 400 | 66,000 |
| 14 | Rescission of Previous Non-publication Request (35 U.S.C. § 122(b)(2)(B)(ii) and, if applicable, Notice of Foreign Filing (35 U.S.C. § 122(b)(2)(B)(iii) | 66 | 66 | .25 (15 minutes) | 17 | 400 | 6,800 |
| 18 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal | 4,787 | 4,787 | .3 (18 minutes) | 1,436 | 400 | 574,400 |
| 19 | Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d) | 26 | 26 | .2 (12 minutes) | 5 | 400 | 2,000 |
| 20 | Request for Voluntary Publication or Republication (includes publication fee for republication) | 4 | 4 | .2 (12 minutes) | 1 | 145 | 145 |
| 21 | Applicant Initiated Interview Request Form | 945 | 945 | .4 (24 minutes) | 378 | 400 | 151,200 |
| 22 | Processing Fee Under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal | 4 | 4 | .08 (5 minutes) | 1 | 400 | 400 |
| 23 | Request to Retrieve Electronic Priority Application (s) Under 37 CFR 1.55(h) | 181 | 181 | .25 (15 minutes) | 45 | 400 | 18,000 |
| 24 | Authorization or Rescission of Authorization to Permit Access to Application-as-filed by Participating Offices Under 37 CFR 1.14(h) | 240 | 240 | .25 (15 minutes) | 60 | 400 | 24,000 |
| 25 | Petition for Express Abandonment to Obtain a Refund | 56 | 56 | .2 (12 minutes) | 11 | 400 | 4,400 |
| 26 | Pre-Appeal Brief Request for Review | 240 | 240 | 5 | 1,200 | 400 | 480,000 |
| 27 | Request for Corrected Filing Receipt | 1,302 | 1,302 | .08 (5 minutes) | 104 | 145 | 15,080 |
| 28 | Request for First Action Interview (Pilot Program) (Electronic only) | 63 | 63 | 2.5 | 158 | 400 | 63,200 |
| 29 | Petition to Make Special Based on Age for Advancement of Examination under 37 CFR 1.102(c)(1) (EFS-Web only) | 45 | 45 | 2 | 90 | 400 | 36,000 |
| 30 | Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR 1.129(a)) | 3 | 3 | 8 | 24 | 400 | 9,600 |
| 31 | Correction of inventorship after first office action on the merits | 90 | 90 | .75 (45 minutes) | 68 | 400 | 27,200 |
| 32 | Request for correction in a patent application relating to inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names, other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48) | 440 | 440 | .75 (45 minutes) | 330 | 400 | 132,000 |
| 33 | Request to correct or update the name of the applicant under 37 CFR 1.46(c)(1), or change the applicant under 37 CFR 1.46(c)(2) | 353 | 353 | .2 (12 minutes) | 71 | 400 | 28,400 |
| Total | | 110,083 | 110,083 | | 95,623 | | 25,273,525 |
*Estimated Total Annual Non-Hour Respondent Cost Burden:* $408,845,999.
There are no recordkeeping, maintenance, or capital start-up costs associated with this information collection. However, this information collection has annual non-hour costs in the form of filing fees, as estimated in Table 3, and postage costs. The public may submit the paper forms and petitions in this information collection to the USPTO by mail through the United States Postal Service. If the submission is sent by first-class mail, the public may also include a signed certification of the date of mailing in order to receive credit for timely filing. The USPTO estimates that approximately 166,111 submissions per year may be mailed. The USPTO estimates that the average submission will be mailed in a legal flat-rate Priority Mail envelope at a cost of $8.05; resulting in a total postage cost of $1,377,194.
| Item No. | Item | Estimated | Estimated | Estimated |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| | | (a) | (b) | (a) × (b) |
| 1 | Information Disclosure Statements (IDS) that require the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) (large entity) | $108,938 | $260 | $28,323,880 |
| 1 | IDS that require the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) (small entity) | 27,198 | 130 | 3,535,740 |
| 1 | IDS that require the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(p) (micro entity) | 770 | 65 | 50,050 |
| 3 | One-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large entity) | 84,428 | 220 | 18,574,160 |
| 3 | One-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small entity) | 34,564 | 110 | 3,802,040 |
| 3 | One-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro entity) | 4,035 | 55 | 221,925 |
| 3 | Two-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large entity) | 36,165 | 640 | 23,145,600 |
| 3 | Two-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small entity) | 19,728 | 320 | 6,312,960 |
| 3 | Two-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro entity) | 2,346 | 160 | 375,360 |
| 3 | Three-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large entity) | 30,668 | 1480 | 45,388,640 |
| 3 | Three-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small entity) | 30,442 | 740 | 22,527,080 |
| 3 | Three-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro entity) | 3,227 | 370 | 1,193,990 |
| 3 | Four-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large entity) | 1,860 | 2320 | 4,315,200 |
| 3 | Four-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small entity) | 2,366 | 1160 | 2,744,560 |
| 3 | Four-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro entity) | 294 | 580 | 170,520 |
| 3 | Five-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (large entity) | 2,038 | 3160 | 6,440,080 |
| 3 | Five-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (small entity) | 2,257 | 1580 | 3,566,060 |
| 3 | Five-month Extension of Time under 37 CFR 1.136(a) (micro entity) | 182 | 790 | 143,780 |
| 5 | Statutory Disclaimer (including terminal disclaimer) (large entity) | 44,625 | 170 | 7,586,250 |
| 5 | Statutory Disclaimer (including terminal disclaimer) (small entity) | 14,365 | 170 | 2,442,050 |
| 5 | Statutory Disclaimer (including terminal disclaimer) (micro entity) | 691 | 170 | 117,470 |
| 6 | Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application (large entity) | 381 | 1600 | 609,600 |
| 6 | Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application (small entity) | 468 | 800 | 374,400 |
| 6 | Request for Expedited Examination of a Design Application (micro entity) | 218 | 400 | 87,200 |
| 8 | Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally (large entity) | 3,006 | 2100 | 6,312,600 |
| 8 | Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally (small entity) | 3,730 | 1050 | 3,916,500 |
| 8 | Petition for Revival of an Application for Patent Abandoned Unintentionally (micro entity) | 1,167 | 525 | 612,675 |
| 9 | Petition for revival of an application for patent abandoned for failure to notify the office of a foreign or international filing (large entity) | 108 | 2100 | 226,800 |
| 9 | Petition for revival of an application for patent abandoned for failure to notify the office of a foreign or international filing (small entity) | 22 | 1050 | 23,100 |
| 9 | Petition for revival of an application for patent abandoned for failure to notify the office of a foreign or international filing (micro entity) | 14 | 525 | 7,350 |
| 17 | Copy of File Content Showing Redactions | 1 | 140 | 140 |
| 19 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal (First Request) (large entity) | 74,458 | 1360 | 101,262,880 |
| 19 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal (First Request) (small entity) | 26,592 | 680 | 18,082,560 |
| 19 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal (First Request) (micro entity) | 5,318 | 340 | 1,808,120 |
| 19 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal (Second and Subsequent Requests) (large entity) | 37,076 | 2000 | 74,152,000 |
| 19 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal (Second and Subsequent Requests) (small entity) | 13,241 | 1000 | 13,241,000 |
| 19 | Request for Continued Examination (RCE) Transmittal (Second and Subsequent Requests) (micro entity) | 2,648 | 500 | 1,324,000 |
| 21 | Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d) (large entity) | 601 | 220 | 132,220 |
| 21 | Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d) (small entity) | 215 | 110 | 23,650 |
| 21 | Request for Suspension of Action or Deferral of Examination Under 37 CFR 1.103(b), (c), or (d) (micro entity) | 42 | 55 | 2,310 |
| 22 | Request for Voluntary Publication or Republication (includes publication fee for republication) | 138 | 140 | 19,320 |
| 24 | Processing Fee Under 37 CFR 1.17(i) Transmittal | 123 | 140 | 17,220 |
| 32 | Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR 1.129(a)) (large entity) | 46 | 880 | 40,480 |
| 32 | Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR 1.129(a)) (small entity) | 44 | 440 | 19,360 |
| 32 | Filing a submission after final rejection (see 37 CFR 1.129(a)) (micro entity) | 5 | 220 | 1,100 |
| 33 | Correction of inventorship after first office action on the merits (large entity) | 1156 | 640 | 739,840 |
| 33 | Correction of inventorship after first office action on the merits (small entity) | 793 | 320 | 253,760 |
| 33 | Correction of inventorship after first office action on the merits (micro entity) | 62 | 160 | 9,920 |
| 34 | Request for correction in a patent application relating to inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names, other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48) (large entity) | 10,259 | 260 | 2,667,340 |
| 34 | Request for correction in a patent application relating to inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names, other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48) (small entity) | 3,664 | 130 | 476,320 |
| 34 | Request for correction in a patent application relating to inventorship or an inventor name, or order of names, other than in a reissue application (37 CFR 1.48) (micro entity) | 733 | 65 | 47,645 |
| Total | | | | 407,468,805 |
*Respondent's Obligation:* Required to obtain or retain benefits.
**IV. Request for Comments**
The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
(a) Evaluate whether the proposed 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 are 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. 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 personal identifying information in a comment, be aware that the entire comment— including personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask in your comment to withhold personal identifying information from public view, USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
Kimberly Hardy,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.