The "Patent and Trademark Office
Efficiency Act" (PTOEA), was enacted on November 29,1999 as part of
Public Law 106-113 (Consolidated Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year
2000), which incorporated and enacted into law provisions
introduced in the "Intellectual Property and Communications Omnibus
Reform Act of 1999." The PTOEA established the United States Patent
and Trade- mark Office (USPTO) as a performance-based organization.
As a performance-based organization, the USPTO is now responsible
for its own operations, including many functions that were
previously performed by the Department of Commerce (DoC). Due to
this
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.