[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 10, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1557-1563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-00268]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Initial Patent Applications
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comment.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as
required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on
the extension and revision of an existing information collection: 0651-
0032 Initial Patent Applications. 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 March 11, 2024.
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-
0032 comment'' in the subject line of the message.
Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.
Mail: Justin Isaac, 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, United States
Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450;
by telephone at 571-272-7728; or by email at [email protected] with
``0651-0032 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 title 35 of the United States Code, including 35 U.S.C. 131, to
examine applications for patents. The USPTO administers the patent
statutes relating to examination through various rules in chapter 37 of
the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), such as, for example, 37 CFR
1.16 through 1.84. Each patent applicant must provide sufficient
information to allow the USPTO to properly examine the application to
determine whether it meets the criteria set forth in the patent
statutes and regulations for issuance as a patent. The patent statutes
and regulations require that an application for patent include the
following information:
(1) A specification containing a description of the invention and
at least one claim defining the property right sought by the applicant;
(2) A drawing(s) or photograph(s), where necessary for an
understanding of the invention;
(3) An oath or declaration signed by the applicant (under 35 U.S.C.
115(f), the time for filing the oath or declaration is no later than
the date on which the issue fee for the patent is paid); and
(4) A filing fee.
Various types of patent applications are covered under this
information collection:
Noncontinuing, nonprovisional utility, plant and design
applications,
Provisional applications,
Continuation/divisional applications of international
applications,
Continued prosecution applications (design), and
Continuation/divisional and continuation-in-part
applications of utility, plant, and design applications.
In addition, this information collection covers certain other
papers filed by applicants, such as, for example, petitions to accept
an unintentionally delayed priority or benefit claim, petitions to
accept a filing by other than all of the inventors or a person not the
inventor, and petitions requesting that applications filed under 37 CFR
1.495(b) be accorded a receipt date.
Furthermore, this information collection incorporates the lone item
in 0651-0073 (Patent Law Treaty): petitions to restore the right of
priority to a foreign application under 37 CFR 1.55(c) or the benefit
of a prior-filed provisional application under 37 CFR 1.78(b). The
petitions are used to extend the 12-month periods set forth in 35
U.S.C. 119(a) and (e) by an additional 2 months where there is an
unintentional delay in filing an application claiming priority to a
foreign application or the benefit of a provisional application. Once
this information collection is renewed, and the petitions are added,
0651-0073 will be discontinued.
II. Method of Collection
The items in this information collection can be submitted through
the USPTO patent electronic filing system (Patent Center), the USPTO's
online filing and viewing system for patent applications and related
documents. The USPTO also will accept submissions by mail, hand
delivery, and facsimile, except that facsimile submission of the
information in this collection is limited to certain items in
accordance with 37 CFR 1.6(d).
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0651-0032.
Forms: (AIA = America Invents Act; SB = Specimen Book)
PTO/AIA/01 (Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for Utility or Design
Patent Application using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR 1.76))
PTO/AIA/01CN (Chinese (simplified) Language Declaration (37
CFR 1.63) for Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data
Sheet (37 CFR 1.76))
PTO/AIA/01DE (German Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/01ES (Spanish Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/01FR (French Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/01IT (Italian Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/01JP (Japanese Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/01KR (Korean Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using An Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/01NL (Dutch Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
[[Page 1558]]
PTO/AIA/01RU (Russian Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using An Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/01SE (Swedish Language Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for
Utility or Design Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR
1.76))
PTO/AIA/02 (Substitute Statement in Lieu of an Oath or
Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35 U.S.C. 115(d)
and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02CN (Chinese (Simplified) Language Substitute
Statement in Lieu of an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design
Patent Application (35 U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02DE (German Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02ES (Spanish Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02FR (French Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02IT (Italian Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02JP (Japanese Language Substitute Statement In Lieu
of an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02KR (Korean Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02NL (Dutch Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02RU (Russian Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/02SE (Swedish Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/AIA/03 (Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for Plant Patent
Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR 1.76))
PTO/AIA/04 (Substitute Statement in Lieu of an Oath or
Declaration for Plant Patent Application (35 U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR
1.64))
PTO/AIA/08 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63))
PTO/AIA/09 (Plant Patent Application (35 U.S.C. 161)
Declaration (37 CFR 1.162))
PTO/AIA/10 (Supplemental Sheet for Declaration (Additional
Inventor(s), Supplemental Sheet for PTO/AIA/08, 09))
PTO/AIA/11 (Substitute Statement Supplemental Sheet
(Inventor(s), Supplemental Sheet for PTO/AIA/02, 04, 07))
PTO/AIA/14 (Application Data Sheet 37 CFR 1.76)
PTO/AIA/15 (Utility Patent Application Transmittal)
PTO/AIA/18 (Design Patent Application Transmittal)
PTO/AIA/19 (Plant Patent Application Transmittal)
PTO/SB/01 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63))
PTO/SB/01A (Declaration (37 CFR 1.63) for Utility or Design
Application Using an Application Data Sheet (37 CFR 1.76))
PTO/SB/02 consisting of PTO/SB/02A (Declaration (Additional
Inventor(s), Supplemental Sheet)) and PTO/SB/02B (Declaration--
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet)
PTO/SB/02CN (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheets [2 pages] (Chinese Language
Declaration for Additional Inventors)
PTO/SB/02DE (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheets [2 pages] (German Language
Declaration for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02ES (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet [2 pages] (Spanish Language
Declaration for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02FR (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet [2 pages] (French Language Declaration
for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02IT (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet [2 pages] (Italian Language
Declaration for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02JP (Japanese Language Substitute Statement in Lieu of
an Oath or Declaration for Utility or Design Patent Application (35
U.S.C. 115(d) and 37 CFR 1.64))
PTO/SB/02KR (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet [2 pages] (Korean Language Declaration
for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02NL (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet [2 pages] (Dutch Language Declaration
for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02RU (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet [2 pages] (Russian Language
Declaration for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02SE (Declaration (Additional Inventors) and
Supplemental Priority Data Sheet [2 pages] (Swedish Language
Declaration for Additional Inventors))
PTO/SB/02LR (Declaration Supplemental Sheet for Legal
Representatives (35 U.S.C. 117) on Behalf of a Deceased or
Incapacitated Inventor)
PTO/SB/03 (Plant Patent Application (35 U.S.C. 161)
Declaration (37 CFR 1.63))
PTO/SB/04 (Supplemental Declaration for Utility or Design
Patent Application (37 CFR 1.67))
PTO/SB/05 (Utility Plant Application Transmittal)
PTO/SB/06 (Patent Application Fee Determination Record
(Substitute for Form PTO-875)
PTO/SB/07 (Multiple Dependent Claim Fee Calculation Sheet
(Substitute for Form PTO-1360; For Use With Form PTO/SB/06)
PTO/SB/16 (Provisional Application for Patent Cover Sheet)
PTO/SB/17 (Fee Transmittal)
PTO/SB/29 (For Design Applications Only: Continued Prosecution
Application (CPA) Request Transmittal)
PTO/SB/29A (For Design Applications Only: Receipt for
Facsimile Transmitted CPA)
PTO/SB/101 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Chinese Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/102 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Dutch Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/103 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (German Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/104 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Italian Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/105 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (French Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/106 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Japanese Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/107 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Russian Language Declaration)
[[Page 1559]]
PTO/SB/108 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Swedish Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/109 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Spanish Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/110 (Declaration for Utility or Design Patent
Application (37 CFR 1.63) (Korean Language Declaration)
PTO/SB/445 (Petition To Accept an Unintentionally Delayed
Claim Under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) (37 CFR 1.78(c)) and/or To Accept an
Unintentionally Delayed Claim Under 35 U.S.C. 120, 121, 365(c), or
386(c) (37 CFR 1.78(e)) for the Benefit of a Prior-Filed Application)
PTO/SB/458 (Petition To Accept an Unintentionally Delayed
Claim Under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) or (f), 365(a) or (b), or 386(a) or
(b) for the Right of Priority to a Prior-Filed Foreign Application (37
CFR 1.55(e))
PTO/SB/459 (Petition To Restore the Benefit of a Provisional
Application (37 CFR 1.78(b)) or To Restore the Priority to a Foreign
Application (37 CFR 1.55(c))
Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved
information collection.
Affected Public: Private sector.
Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 588,255 respondents.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 588,255 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses
in this information collection will take the public approximately
between 45 minutes (0.75 hours) and 40 hours to complete. This includes
the time to gather the necessary information, create the document, and
submit the completed request to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 12,543,215 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden:
$5,606,817,105.
Table 1--Total Burden Hours and Hourly Costs to Private Sector Respondents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated
Estimated Responses per annual Estimated time Estimated Rate \1\ ($/ Estimated annual
Item No. Item annual respondent responses for response annual burden hour) burden
respondents (year) (hours) (hour/year)
(a) (b) (a) x (b) = (d) (c) x (d) = (f) (e) x (f) = (g)
(c) (e)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............... Noncontinuing, 214,000 1 214,000 40 8,560,000 447 3,826,320,000
Nonprovisisional
Utility
Applications.
2............... Noncontinuing, 1,000 1 1,000 9 9,000 447 4,023,000
Nonprovisisional
Plant Applications.
3............... Noncontinuing, 42,000 1 42,000 7 294,000 447 131,418,000
Nonprovisisional
Design
Applications.
4............... Continuation/ 26,000 1 26,000 4 104,000 447 46,488,000
Divisional of an
International
Application.
5............... Utility 114,000 1 114,000 4 456,000 447 203,832,000
Continuation/
Divisional
Applications.
6............... Plant Continuation/ 5 1 5 3 15 447 6,705
Divisional
Application.
7............... Design Continuation/ 6,000 1 6,000 1 6,000 447 2,682,000
Divisional
Application.
8............... Continued 1,500 1 1,500 1 1,500 447 670,500
Prosecution
Applications--Desi
gn (Request
Transmittal and
Receipt).
9............... Utility 11,000 1 11,000 20 220,000 447 98,340,000
Continuation-in-
Part Applications.
10.............. Design Continuation- 850 1 850 3 2,550 447 1,139,850
in-Part
Applications.
11.............. Provisional 160,000 1 160,000 18 2,880,000 447 1,287,360,000
Application for
Patent Cover Sheet.
12.............. Petition To Accept 1,100 1 1,100 1 1,100 447 491,700
Unintentionally
Delayed Priority
or Benefit Claim.
13.............. Petition to be the 3,000 1 3,000 1 3,000 447 1,341,000
applicant under 37
CFR 1.46(b) by a
person who
otherwise shows a
sufficient
proprietary
interest in the
matter.
14.............. Papers filed under 7,000 1 7,000 .75 5,250 447 2,346,750
the following:
1.41(c) or
1.41(a)(2) (pre-
AIA)--to supply
the name or names
of the inventor or
inventors after
the filing date
without a cover
sheet as
prescribed by 37
CFR 1.51(c)(1) in
a provisional
application.
1.48(d)--for
correction of
inventorship in a
provisional
application.
[[Page 1560]]
1.53 (c)(2) or
1.53(c)(2) (pre-
PLT (AIA))--to
convert a
nonprovisional
application filed
under 1.53(b) to a
provisional
application filed
under 1.53(c).
15.............. Petition To Restore 800 1 800 1 800 447 357,600
the Right of
Priority under 37
CFR 1.55(c).
Or
Petition To Restore
the Benefit of a
Prior-Filed
Provisional
Application under
37 CFR 1.78(b).
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Totals...... ................... 588,255 .............. 588,255 .............. 12,543,215 .............. 5,606,817,105
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\1\ 2023 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property Law Association
(AIPLA); pg. F-41. The USPTO uses the average billing rate for intellectual property work in all firms which is $447 per hour (https://www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/economic-survey).
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden:
$1,156,494,847 per year.
There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or recordkeeping costs
associated with this information collection. However, there is non-hour
cost burden in the way of filing fees, drawing costs, and postage
costs.
The total annual (non-hour) respondent cost burden for this
collection is estimated to be $1,156,494,847, which includes
$672,189,140 in filing fees, $484,123,750 in drawing costs, and
$181,957 in postage.
Fees
The filing fees associated with this information collection are
listed in the table below.
Table 2--Filing Fee Costs to Private Sector Respondents
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Estimated
Item No. Fee code Item annual Amount Totals
responses
(a) (b) (a) x (b) =
(c)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1, 4...................................... 1011 Basic Filing Fee--Utility (Paper Filing-- 250,450 $320 $80,144,000
Also Requires Non-Electronic Filing Fee
Under 1.16(t)) (undiscounted entity).
1, 4...................................... 2011 Basic Filing Fee--Utility (Paper Filing-- 260 128 33,280
Also Requires Non-Electronic Filing Fee
Under 1.16(t)) (small entity).
1, 4...................................... 3011 Basic Filing Fee--Utility (Paper Filing-- 14,520 64 929,280
Also Requires Non-Electronic Filing Fee
Under 1.16(t)) (micro entity).
1, 4...................................... 4011 Basic Filing Fee--Utility (electronic filing 84,760 64 5,424,640
for small entities).
1, 4...................................... 1081 Utility Application Size Fee--For Each 20,640 420 8,668,800
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (undiscounted entity).
1, 4...................................... 2081 Utility Application Size Fee--For Each 11,630 168 1,953,840
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (small entity).
1, 4...................................... 3081 Utility Application Size Fee--For Each 220 84 18,480
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (micro entity).
1, 4...................................... 1111 Utility Search Fee (undiscounted entity).... 248,740 700 174,118,000
1, 4...................................... 2111 Utility Search Fee (small entity)........... 83,900 280 23,492,000
1, 4...................................... 3111 Utility Search Fee (micro entity)........... 14,330 140 2,006,200
1, 4...................................... 1311 Utility Examination Fee (undiscounted 249,600 800 199,680,000
entity).
1, 4...................................... 2311 Utility Examination Fee (small entity)...... 84,100 320 26,912,000
1, 4...................................... 3311 Utility Examination Fee (micro entity)...... 14,360 160 2,297,600
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 1201 Each Independent Claim in Excess of Three 42,020 480 20,169,600
(undiscounted entity).
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 2201 Each Independent Claim in Excess of Three 14,500 192 2,784,000
(small entity).
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 3201 Each Independent Claim in Excess of Three 1,400 96 134,400
(micro entity).
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 1202 Each Claim in Excess of 20 (undiscounted 304,230 100 30,423,000
entity).
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 2202 Each Claim in Excess of 20 (small entity)... 158,280 40 6,331,200
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 3202 Each Claim in Excess of 20 (micro entity)... 7,790 20 155,800
[[Page 1561]]
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 1203 Multiple Dependent Claim (undiscounted 730 860 627,800
entity).
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 2203 Multiple Dependent Claim (small entity)..... 470 344 161,680
1,2 4-6, and 9............................ 3203 Multiple Dependent Claim (micro entity)..... 70 172 12,040
2, 5...................................... 1313 Plant Examination Fee (undiscounted entity). 490 660 323,400
2, 5...................................... 2313 Plant Examination Fee (small entity)........ 480 264 126,720
2, 5...................................... 3313 Plant Examination Fee (micro entity)........ 10 132 1,320
2, 5...................................... 1013 Basic Filing Fee--Plant (undiscounted 490 220 107,800
entity).
2, 5...................................... 2013 Basic Filing Fee--Plant (small entity)...... 480 88 42,240
2, 5...................................... 3013 Basic Filing Fee--Plant (micro entity)...... 10 44 440
2, 5...................................... 1113 Plant Search Fee (undiscounted entity)...... 490 440 215,600
2, 5...................................... 2113 Plant Search Fee (small entity)............. 480 176 84,480
2, 5...................................... 3113 Plant Search Fee (micro entity)............. 10 88 880
2, 5...................................... 1083 Plant Application Size Fee--For Each 1 420 420
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (undiscounted entity).
2, 5...................................... 2083 Plant Application Size Fee--For Each 1 168 168
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (small entity).
2, 5...................................... 3083 Plant Application Size Fee--For Each 1 84 84
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (micro entity).
3, 6...................................... 1012 Basic Filing Fee--Design (undiscounted 20,0200 220 4,404,400
entity).
3, 6...................................... 2012 Basic Filing Fee--Design (small entity)..... 19,480 88 1,714,240
3, 6...................................... 3012 Basic Filing Fee--Design (micro entity)..... 15,890 44 699,160
3, 6...................................... 1017 Basic Filing Fee--Design (CPA) (undiscounted 920 220 202,400
entity).
3, 6...................................... 2017 Basic Filing Fee--Design (CPA) (small 500 88 44,000
entity).
3, 6...................................... 3017 Basic Filing Fee--Design (CPA) (micro 85 44 3,740
entity).
3, 6...................................... 1082 Design Application Size Fee--For Each 170 420 71,400
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (undiscounted entity).
3, 6...................................... 2082 Design Application Size Fee--For Each 90 168 15,120
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (small entity).
3, 6...................................... 3082 Design Application Size Fee--For Each 30 84 2,520
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (micro entity).
3, 6...................................... 1112 Design Search Fee (undiscounted entity)..... 20,660 160 3,305,600
3, 6...................................... 2112 Design Search Fee (small entity)............ 19,690 64 1,260,160
3, 6...................................... 3112 Design Search Fee (micro entity)............ 15,880 32 508,160
3, 6...................................... 1312 Design Examination Fee (undiscounted entity) 20,670 640 13,228,800
3, 6...................................... 2312 Design Examination Fee (small entity)....... 19,710 256 5,045,760
3, 6...................................... 3312 Design Examination Fee (micro entity)....... 15,880 128 2,032,640
11........................................ 1085 Provisional Application Size Fee--For Each 11,180 420 4,695,600
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (undiscounted entity).
11........................................ 2085 Provisional Application Size Fee--For Each 11,360 168 1,908,480
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (small entity).
11........................................ 3085 Provisional Application Size Fee--For Each 110 84 9,240
Additional 50 Sheets That Exceeds 100
Sheets (micro entity).
11........................................ 1005 Provisional Application Filing Fee 63,710 300 19,113,000
(undiscounted entity).
11........................................ 2005 Provisional Application Filing Fee (small 69,250 120 8,310,000
entity).
11........................................ 3005 Provisional Application Filing Fee (micro 23,150 60 1,389,000
entity).
1-11...................................... 1051 Surcharge--Late Filing Fee, Search Fee, 78,200 160 12,512,000
Examination Fee, Inventor's Oath or
Declaration, or Application Filed Without
at least One Claim or by Reference
(undiscounted entity).
1-11...................................... 2051 Surcharge--Late Filing Fee, Search Fee, 33,010 64 2,112,640
Examination Fee, Inventor's Oath or
Declaration, or Application Filed Without
at least One Claim or by Reference (small
entity).
1-11...................................... 3051 Surcharge--Late Filing Fee, Search Fee, 3,370 32 107,840
Examination Fee, Inventor's Oath or
Declaration, or Application Filed Without
at least One Claim or by Reference (micro
entity).
1-11...................................... 1052 Surcharge--Late Provisional Filing Fee or 1,700 60 102,000
Cover Sheet (undiscounted entity).
1-11...................................... 2052 Surcharge--Late Provisional Filing Fee or 2,440 24 58,560
Cover Sheet (small entity).
1-11...................................... 3052 Surcharge--Late Provisional Filing Fee or 2,574 12 30,888
Cover Sheet (micro entity).
13........................................ 1463 Electronic Petition To Be the Applicant 1,800 220 396,000
Under 37 CFR 1.46 by a Person Who Otherwise
Shows Sufficient Proprietary Interest in
the Matter (undiscounted entity).
[[Page 1562]]
13........................................ 2463 Electronic Petition To Be the Applicant 900 88 79,200
Under 37 CFR 1.46 by a Person Who Otherwise
Shows Sufficient Proprietary Interest in
the Matter (small entity).
13........................................ 3463 Electronic Petition To Be the Applicant 300 44 13,200
Under 37 CFR 1.46 by a Person Who Otherwise
Shows Sufficient Proprietary Interest in
the Matter (micro entity).
15........................................ 1454 Grantable Petition To Restore the Right of 310 2,100 651,000
Priority Under 37 CFR 1.55(c) (undiscounted
entity).
15........................................ 2454 Grantable Petition To Restore the Right of 65 840 54,600
Priority Under 37 CFR 1.55(c) (small
entity).
15........................................ 3454 Grantable Petition To Restore the Right of 25 420 10,500
Priority Under 37 CFR 1.55(c) (micro
entity).
15........................................ 1454 Grantable Petition To Restore the Benefit of 310 2,100 651,000
a Prior-Filed Provisional Application Under
37 CFR 1.78(b) (undiscounted entity).
15........................................ 2454 Grantable Petition To Restore the Benefit of 65 840 54,600
a Prior-Filed Provisional Application Under
37 CFR 1.78(b) (small entity).
15........................................ 3454 Grantable Petition To Restore the Benefit of 25 420 10,500
a Prior-Filed Provisional Application Under
37 CFR 1.78(b) (micro entity).
-----------------------------------------------
Total Filing Fees 2,083,472 .............. 672,189,140
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Drawing Costs
Patent applicants can submit drawings with their utility, design,
plant, and provisional applications. Applicants can prepare these
drawings on their own or they can hire patent illustration services
firms to create them. As a basis for estimating the drawing costs, the
USPTO expects that all applicants will have their drawings prepared by
a patent illustration firm.
Estimates for the patent drawing can vary greatly, depending on the
number of figures to be produced, the total number of pages for the
drawings, and the complexity of the drawings. Because there are many
variables involved, the USPTO is using the average of the estimated
cost ranges for the application drawings to derive the estimated cost
per sheet that is then used to calculate the total drawing costs seen
the table below.
The utility, plant, and design continuation and divisional
applications use the same drawings as the initial filings, so they are
not included in these totals. New drawings may be submitted in the
continuation-in-part applications, so those numbers are included in
these estimates. The drawings for the continued prosecution
applications also are included in the drawing cost totals for designs.
There are no continuation, divisional, or continuation-in-part
provisional applications.
Utility Application Drawings--The USPTO estimates that the
costs to produce these drawings can range from $50 to $200 per sheet.
Taking the average of this range, the USPTO estimates that it can cost
$125 per sheet to produce the drawings and that, on average, 10 sheets
of drawings are submitted for an average cost of $1,250 to produce the
utility drawings. Out of 339,000 utility applications submitted, the
USPTO estimates that 68% (or 230,520) applications will be submitted
with drawings.
Plant Application Drawings--In general, photographs are
submitted for the plant applications, although drawings can also be
submitted. The USPTO estimates that the cost to produce the photographs
or drawings for the plant applications can range from $50 to $100.
Taking the average of this range, the USPTO estimates that it can cost
$75 per sheet to produce the photographs or drawings for the plant
applications. On average, 10 sheets of drawings are submitted for an
average cost of $750 to produce the photographs/drawings for the plant
applications. Out of 1,005 plant applications submitted per year, the
USPTO estimates that all of them will be submitted with drawings.
Design Application Drawings--The USPTO estimates that the
costs to produce design drawings can range from $50 to $350 per sheet.
Taking the average of this range, the USPTO estimates that it can cost
$200 per sheet to produce design drawings. On average, 10 sheets of
drawings are submitted for an average cost of $2,000 to produce the
design drawings. Out of 48,850 design applicants submitted per year,
the USPTO estimates that all of them will be submitted with drawings.
Provisional Application Drawings--The USPTO estimates that
the cost to produce the provisional drawings can range from $30 to $200
per sheet. Taking the average of this range, the USPTO estimates that
it can cost $115 per sheet to produce the provisional drawings. On
average, 10 sheets of drawings are submitted for an average cost of
$1,150 to produce the provisional drawings. Out of 160,000 provisional
applications submitted per year, the USPTO estimates that 53% (or
84,800) applications will be submitted with drawings.
[[Page 1563]]
Table 3--Drawing Costs to Private Sector Respondents
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated Estimated
Item No. Item annual drawing costs Drawing cost
responses amount ($) totals
(a) (b) (a) x (b) =
(c)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................ Utility Application Drawings..... 230,520 $1,250 $288,150,000
2............................ Plant Application Drawings 1,005 750 753,750
(Photographs).
3............................ Design Applications Drawings..... 48,850 2,000 97,700,000
11........................... Provisional Application Drawings. 84,800 1,150 97,520,000
-----------------------------------------------
Total Drawing Costs............................... .............. 365,175 484,123,750
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postage
Although the USPTO prefers that the items in this information
collection be submitted electronically, the items may be submitted by
mail through the United States Postal Service (USPS). The USPTO
estimates the following:
If an applicant decides to file a patent application
covered under this information collection by mail, the USPTO recommends
that the patent application be filed by Priority Mail Express[supreg]
in accordance with 37 CFR 1.10 to establish the date of deposit with
the USPS as the filing date (otherwise the filing date of the
application will be the date that it is received at the USPTO). The
USPTO estimates that about 1.5% of patent applicants (lines 1-10) will
be filed by mail resulting in 6,245 mailed applications. Using the
Priority Mail Express[supreg] flat rate cost for mailing envelopes, the
USPTO estimates that the average cost for sending a patent application
by Priority Mail Express[supreg] will be $28.95; resulting in a cost of
$180,793.
If an applicant decides to file a petition or a paper
filed under 37 CFR 1.41(c), 1.41(a)(2) (pre-AIA), 1.48(d), 1.53(c)(2),
1.53(c)(2) (pre-PLT (AIA)), 1.55(c), or 1.78(b) by mail, the USPTO
estimates that the petition or paper will be sent by Priority Mail. The
USPTO estimates that about 1.5% of these petitions (lines 14 and 15)
will be filed by mail resulting in 117 mailed items. Using the Priority
Mail USPTO further estimates that the average cost for a Priority Mail
legal flat rate envelope shipped via USPS is $9.95; resulting in an
cost of $1,164.
Therefore, the total estimated postage cost for this collection is
$181,957.
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 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 personally
identifiable information (PII) in a comment, be aware that the entire
comment--including PII--may be made publicly available at any time.
While you may ask in your comment to withhold PII from public view,
USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
Justin Isaac,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2024-00268 Filed 1-9-24; 8:45 am]
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