The requirement to pay maintenance
fees in order to maintain a patent in force is set forth in 35
U.S.C. 41(b). Maintenance fees are required on patents issuing on
or after December 12, 1980 and are normally paid by patentees,
patent owners, or their assignees. The patent number and
application serial number of the patent on which maintenance fees
are paid are required in order to ensure the proper crediting of
such payments.
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:
(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;
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.