View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package
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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:
0651-0057
ICR Reference No:
202504-0651-002
Status:
Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
202205-0651-003
Agency/Subagency:
DOC/PTO
Agency Tracking No:
Title:
Patents External Quality Survey
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:
09/11/2025
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
07/23/2025
Terms of Clearance:
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
09/30/2028
36 Months From Approved
09/30/2025
Responses
1,000
0
3,100
Time Burden (Hours)
171
0
444
Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
Abstract:
This United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) External Quality Survey is an instrument designed to measure opinions about the services that USPTO provides its patent application customers. The results from this voluntary survey will assist the USPTO in guiding improvements and enhancements in the future. This survey narrows the focus of customer satisfaction to examination quality. It also uses a longitudinal, rotating panel design to assess changes in customer perceptions and to identify key areas for examiner training and opportunities for improvement. The USPTO uses this survey to identify problems with examination quality and works to resolve these issues in a timely manner. The USPTO surveys patent agents, attorneys, and other individuals from large domestic corporations (including those with over 500 employees), small and medium-size businesses, independent inventors, and universities and other non-profit research organizations. This survey does not request responses from foreign entities.
Authorizing Statute(s):
EO: EO 12862 Name/Subject of EO: Setting Customer Service Standards
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:
90 FR 18648
05/01/2025
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
90 FR 34643
07/23/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
3
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Patents External Quality Survey (New panel in current year, surveyed once in Wave 2)
PTO/2325
Patents External Quality Survey
Patents External Quality Survey (Present in Wave 1 and Wave 2 in current year)
PTO/2325
Patent External Quality Survey
Patents External Quality Survey (Holdover panel from previous year, surveyed once in Wave 1)
PTO/2325
Patents External Quality Survey
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
1,000
3,100
0
-600
-1,500
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
171
444
0
-18
-255
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
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:
Yes
Burden Reduction Due to:
Miscellaneous Actions
Short Statement:
The total number of responses has decreased by 600 due to the removal of the non-response follow-up survey card (Item 3 in the previous renewal) This item was determined to be exempt from the PRA. The survey card does not collect information and merely directs respondents to take the survey. This decrease in responses results in a decrease of 18 hours in the annual time burden estimates.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$332,637
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
Yes
Part B of Supporting Statement
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.
No
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.
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?
No
Agency Contact:
David Fitzpatrick 571 272-1450 david.fitzpatrick@upsto.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:
07/23/2025
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