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View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
0651-0066
ICR Reference No:
202211-0651-001
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
202210-0651-003
Agency/Subagency:
DOC/PTO
Agency Tracking No:
Title:
Patents for Humanity Program
Type of Information Collection:
No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
12/13/2022
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
11/29/2022
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
04/30/2025
04/30/2025
04/30/2025
Responses
145
0
115
Time Burden (Hours)
458
0
428
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
Since 2012, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has conducted the Patents for Humanity Program, an annual award program to incentivize the distribution of patented technologies or products for the purpose of addressing humanitarian needs. The program is open to any patent owners or patent licensees, including inventors who have not assigned their ownership rights to others, assignees, and exclusive or non-exclusive licenses. USPTO collects information from applicants that describe what actions they have taken with their patented technology to address the welfare of impoverished populations, or how they furthered research by others on technologies for humanitarian purposes. There are numerous categories of awards including: Medicine, Nutrition, Sanitation, Household Energy, and Living Standards. Sometimes the program includes additional categories specific for that year, for example COVID–19. This information collection covers two application forms for the Patents for Humanity Program. The first application covers the humanitarian uses of technologies or products, and the second application covers humanitarian research. In both, applicants are required to describe how their technology or product satisfies the program criteria to address humanitarian issues. Additionally, applicants must provide non-public contact information in order for USPTO to notify them about their award status. Applicants may optionally provide contact information for the public to reach them with any inquiries. Applications must be submitted via email and will be posted on USPTO’s website. Qualified judges from outside USPTO will review and score the applications. USPTO will then forward the top-scoring applications to reviewers from participating Federal agencies to recommend award recipients. Winners are invited to participate in an awards ceremony at USPTO. Those applications that are chosen for an award will receive a certificate redeemable to accelerate select matters before USPTO. The certificates can be redeemed to accelerate one of the following matters: An ex parte reexamination proceeding, including one appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) from that proceeding; a patent application, including one appeal to the PTAB from that application; or an appeal to the PTAB of a claim twice rejected in a patent application or reissue application or finally rejected in an ex parte reexamination, without accelerating the underlying matter which generated the appeal. This information collection also covers the information gathered in petitions to extend an acceleration certificate redemption beyond 12 months. Finally, winners are now able to transfer their certificates to third parties, including by sale, due to the January 2021 passage of the Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
35 USC 3(a)(2)
Name of Law: Leahy Smith America Invents Act
PL:
Pub.L. 116 - 316 1 and 2
Name of Law: Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act
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:
86 FR 67927
11/30/2021
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
87 FR 9326
02/18/2022
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
Yes
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
16
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (Federal Government)
PTO PFH 002
Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (Individuals or Households)
PTO PFH 002
Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (Private Sector)
PTO PFH 002
Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (State, Local, and Tribal Governments)
PTO PFH 002
Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (Federal Government)
PTO PFH 001
Humanitarian Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (Individuals or Households)
PTO PFH 001
Humanitarian Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (Private Sector)
PTO PFH 001
Humanitarian Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (State, Local, and Tribal Governments)
PTO PFH 001
Humanitarian Use Application
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (Federal Government)
PTO SB 431
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (Individuals or Households)
PTO SB 431
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (Private Sector)
PTO SB 431
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (State, Local, and Tribal Governments)
PTO SB 431
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Trademark for Humanity (individuals and households)
Trademarks for Humanity (private sector)
Transfer of Awards Certificate (Individuals or Households)
PTO SB 466
TRANSFER OF ACCELERATION CERTIFICATE UNDER THE PATENTS FOR HUMANITY PROGRAM
Transfer of Awards Certificate (Private Sector)
PTO SB 466
TRANSFER OF ACCELERATION CERTIFICATE UNDER THE PATENTS FOR HUMANITY PROGRAM
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
145
115
0
30
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
458
428
0
30
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
Yes
Burden Increase Due to:
Miscellaneous Actions
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Reduction Due to:
Short Statement:
This change worksheet adds a new program resulting in both a Patents for Humanity and a Trademark for Humanity program. As awareness of the Patents for Humanity programs has grown, so has interest in participation by applicates for Trademark. The USPTO seeks to add a “Trademarks for Humanity Program” similar to the existing program. The program will begin as a pilot program, with the topic of environmental impacts. Applicants with registered trademarks will describe how their trademark(s) have been used or related to improving the environment. Like the Patents for Humanity, this Trademark focused program will also have a variety of topics depending upon the year.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$433
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see
OMB Circular No. A-130
for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
Yes
Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see
5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3)
)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
Yes
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?
No
Agency Contact:
Soma Saha 571 272-9300
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:
11/29/2022
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