View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package
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View Information Collection (IC) List
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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
0651-0016
ICR Reference No:
201201-0651-007
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
200901-0651-004
Agency/Subagency:
DOC/PTO
Agency Tracking No:
Title:
Rules for Patent Maintenance Fees
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
05/09/2012
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
03/27/2012
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
05/31/2015
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2012
Responses
573,161
0
470,397
Time Burden (Hours)
43,605
0
33,426
Cost Burden (Dollars)
791,160,764
0
614,571,323
Abstract:
Under 35 U.S.C. § 41 and 37 CFR 1.20(e)-(i) and 1.362-1.378, the USPTO charges fees for maintaining in force all utility patents based on applications filed on or after December 12, 1980. Payment of these maintenance fees is due at 3-1/2, 7-1/2, and 11-1/2 years after the date the patent was granted. If the USPTO does not receive payment of the appropriate maintenance fee and any applicable surcharge within a grace period of six months following each of the above intervals, the patent will expire and no longer be enforceable. The public uses this collection to submit patent maintenance fee payments, to file petitions regarding delayed or refused payments, and to designate an address to be used for fee-related correspondence.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
35 USC 41
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
Not associated with rulemaking
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
76 FR 55364
09/07/2011
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
77 FR 18215
03/27/2012
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
8
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Electronic Maintenance Fee Transactions
Maintenance Fee Transmittal Transactions
PTO/SB/45
Maintenance Fee Transmittal Form
Petition for Reconsideration of Decision on Petition Refusing to Accept Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(e))
Petition to Accept Unavoidably Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(b))
PTO/SB/65
Petition to Accept Unavoidably Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(b))
Petition to Accept Unintentionally Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(c))
PTO/SB/66
Petition to Accept Unintentionally Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(c))
Petition to Accept Unintentionally Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(c)) EFS-Web
PTO/SB/66
Petition to Accept Unintentionally Delayed Payment of Maintenance Fee in an Expired Patent (37 CFR 1.378(c)) EFS-Web
Petition to Review Refusal to Accept Payment of Maintenance Fee Prior to Expiration of Patent (37 CFR 1.377)
Fee Address Indication Form
PTO/SB/47
Fee Address Indication Form
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
573,161
470,397
0
0
102,764
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
43,605
33,426
0
0
10,179
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
791,160,764
614,571,323
0
102,831,475
73,757,966
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Increase Due to:
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Reduction Due to:
Short Statement:
Increases in annual responses and burden hours are administrative adjustments based on revised estimates of filings for the items in this collection. Increases in annual cost burden that are administrative adjustments are also primarily associated with revised estimates of annual filings. Increases in annual cost burden that are program changes are primarily due to increases in the maintenance fee amounts and related surcharges implemented by the USPTO, offset by a small decrease from removing recordkeeping costs from this collection. The recordkeeping costs previously associated with retaining the receipt from online transactions have been removed because retaining this receipt is a suggestion and not a requirement.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$1,003,806
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002?
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
No
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
No
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
Uncollected
Agency Contact:
Raul Tamayo 5712727728 Raul.Tamayo@uspto.gov
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
03/27/2012
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