The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance the following proposal for collection of information under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Title: Patent Cooperation Treaty.
Form Number(s): PCT RO/101, PCT/RO/134, PTO-1382, PTO-1390, PCT/IPEA/401, PTO/SB/61/PCT, PTO/SB/64/PCT, PCT/Model of power of attorney, PCT/Model of general power of attorney.
Agency Approval Number: 0651-0021.
Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection.
Burden: 347,889 hours annually.
Number of Respondents: 355,655 responses per year.
Avg. Hours Per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the public approximately 15 minutes (0.25 hours) to 8 hours to gather the necessary information; prepare the appropriate form, petition, or other request; and submit the information to the USPTO.
Needs and Uses: The general purpose of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) is to standardize the format and filing procedures so that applicants may file one international application in one location, in one language, and pay one initial set of fees to seek protection for an invention in more than 100 designated countries. This collection of information is necessary so that respondents can apply for an international patent and so that the USPTO can fulfill its duties to process, search, and examine international patent applications under the provisions of the PCT. Recent amendments to the PCT regulations that will be effective January 1, 2004, have simplified the application process and fee structure, resulting in the deletion of two forms from this collection, PCT/RO/144 Notice of Confirmation of Precautionary Designations and PCT/IB/328 Notice Effecting Later Elections.
Affected Public: Individuals or households, businesses or other for-profits, not-for-profit institutions, farms, the Federal Government, and state, local or tribal governments.
Frequency: On occasion.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
OMB Desk Officer: David Rostker, (202) 395-3897.
Copies of the above information collection proposal can be obtained by calling or writing Susan K. Brown, Records Officer, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Data Architecture and Services, Data Administration Division, 703-308-7400, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313, Attn: CPK 3 Suite 310; or by e-mail at susan.brown@uspto.gov.
Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be sent on or before February 13, 2004 to David Rostker, OMB Desk Officer, Room 10202, New Executive Office Building, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
Dated: January 8, 2004.
Susan K. Brown,
Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Office of Data Architecture and Services, Data Administration Division.
[FR Doc. 04-779 Filed 1-13-04; 8:45 am]
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