[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 91 (Tuesday, May 12, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27150-27151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11419]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Pro Bono Survey
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part
of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden,
invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the
proposed information collection as required by the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 13, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
Email: InformationCollection@uspto.gov. Include ``0651-Pro
Bono Survey comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Marcie Lovett, Records Management Division Director,
Office of the Chief Information 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 Jennifer McDowell, Attorney, Office of General
Law, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-7013; or by email to
Jennifer.Mcdowell@uspto.gov with ``0651-Pro Bono Survey 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
The Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA), Public Law 112-29 Sec.
32 (2011) directs the USPTO to work with and support intellectual
property law associations across the country in the establishment of
pro bono programs designed to assist financially under-resourced
independent inventors and small businesses. In February 2014, President
Obama issued an Executive Action calling on the USPTO to expand the
existing patent pro bono programs to all 50 states in the country. In
support of this Executive Action, the USPTO--in collaboration with
various non-profit organizations--has established a series of
autonomous regional hubs that act as matchmakers to help connect low-
income inventors with volunteer patent attorneys across the United
States. The regional hubs comprise law school IP clinics, bar
associations, innovation/entrepreneurial organizations, and arts-
focused lawyer referral services that are strategically located to
provide access to patent pro bono services across all fifty states.
This information will help the USPTO determine which regional hubs are
operating efficiently and which programs need additional support.
This information collection will ascertain the effectiveness of
each individual regional hub with respect to their matchmaking efforts.
The USPTO has worked with the Pro Bono Advisory Council (PBAC) to
determine what information is necessary to ascertain the effectiveness
of each regional pro bono hub's matchmaking operations. PBAC is a well-
established group of patent practitioners and patent pro bono regional
hub administrators who have committed to provide support and guidance
to patent pro bono programs across the country. PBAC is responsible for
the collection of this information, which is collected on a quarterly
basis. The information, at its highest level, will allow PBAC and the
USPTO to ascertain whether the regional hubs are matching qualified low
income inventors with volunteer patent attorneys. It will also help
establish the total economic benefit derived by low-income inventors in
the form of donated legal services.
[[Page 27151]]
II. Method of Collection
This survey will be conducted electronically through a web form
created to support this survey.
III. Data
OMB Number: 0651--New.
IC Instruments and Forms: The individual instrument in this
collection, as well as its associated form, is listed in the table
below.
Type of Review: New.
Affected Public: Not-for-profit institutions.
Estimated Number of Respondents: An estimated 20 respondents will
provide quarterly responses, for a total of 80 responses per year.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take
two hours to complete the PBAC Administrator Survey, including time
needed to gather the necessary information, enter it into the
information collection instrument, and submit it.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 160 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent (Hourly) Cost Burden: $8,000.00.
The USPTO expects that regional program administrators will complete
these applications. The professional hourly rate for a regional program
administrator is $50.00. Using this hourly rate, the USPTO estimates
that the total respondent cost burden for this collection is $8,000.00
per year.
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Information Estimated time
IC No. collection for response Estimated annual Estimated annual Rate ($/
instrument (minutes) responses burden hours hr)
(a) (b) (a) x (b)/60 =
(c)
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1............................ Regional 120 80 160 $50.00
Program
Administrator
Survey.
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Total.................... ............... ................ 80 160 ..........
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Estimated Total Annual (Non-hour) Respondent Cost Burden: $0.00.
There are no capital startup, maintenance, or operating fees associated
with this collection, nor are there postage costs, filing fees, or
processing fees.
IV. Request for Comments
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.
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.
Dated: May 4, 2015.
Marcie Lovett,
Records Management Divison Director, USPTO, Office of the Chief
Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2015-11419 Filed 5-11-15; 8:45 am]
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