[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 124 (Thursday, June 29, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42046-42047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-13869]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No. PTO-C-2023-0009]


Study of the Patent Pro Bono Programs; Request for Comments; 
Extension of the Comment Period

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Request for comments; extension of the comment period.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) recently 
sought public comments on topics related to the study of the patent pro 
bono programs identified in the Unleashing American Innovators Act of 
2022. This study builds on the work the USPTO has conducted for over a 
decade, and has scaled during the Biden Administration, to bring more 
people in America into the innovation ecosystem. The USPTO believes 
that broadening access to the intellectual property system will create 
more jobs, foster economic prosperity, and promote the development of 
solutions for societal challenges. In response to stakeholder feedback, 
the USPTO is extending the comment period until August 11, 2023, to 
give interested members of the public additional time to submit 
comments.

DATES: Comments must be received by August 11, 2023.

ADDRESSES: For reasons of Government efficiency, comments must be 
submitted through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at 
www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the portal, enter docket 
number PTO-C-2023-0009 on the homepage and click ``search.'' The site 
will provide a search results page listing all documents associated 
with this docket. Find a reference to this request for comments and 
click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter 
or attach your comments. Attachments to electronic comments will be 
accepted in ADOBE[supreg] portable document format (PDF) or MICROSOFT 
WORD[supreg] format. Since comments will be made available for public 
inspection, information that the submitter does not desire to make 
public, such as an address or phone

[[Page 42047]]

number, should not be included in the comments.
    Visit the Federal eRulemaking Portal for additional instructions on 
providing comments via the portal. If electronic submission of comments 
is not feasible due to a lack of access to a computer and/or the 
internet, please contact the USPTO using the contact information below 
for special instructions regarding how to submit comments by mail or by 
hand delivery.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Will Covey, Deputy General Counsel for 
Enrollment and Discipline and Director of the Office of Enrollment and 
Discipline, at 571-272-4097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 12, 2023, the USPTO sought input 
from the public on the patent pro bono programs to evaluate the 
programs and make recommendations and improvements that will strengthen 
their reach and impact. See Study of the Patent Pro Bono Programs; 
Notice of Public Listening Sessions and Request for Comments, 88 FR 
22012. The notice requested public comments by July 11, 2023.
    In view of the importance of this effort, and in response to 
stakeholder feedback, the USPTO is extending the period for public 
comments on the patent pro bono programs until August 11, 2023. As 
stated in the April 12, 2023, notice, the USPTO seeks feedback from a 
broad range of stakeholders, including, but not limited to, inventors, 
small businesses, entrepreneurs, patent attorneys, patent agents, law 
firms, nonprofit organizations, academic institutions, public interest 
groups, and the general public. The USPTO desires feedback from 
stakeholders so it can, as appropriate, evaluate the programs and make 
recommendations to Congress regarding possible administrative and 
legislative actions. All other information provided in the April 12, 
2023, notice remains unchanged. Previously submitted comments do not 
need to be resubmitted.

Katherine K. Vidal,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2023-13869 Filed 6-28-23; 8:45 am]
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