0651-0058-JustStmtadd2008-final-new

SUPPORTING STATEMENT
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Proposed Addition to
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program
(formerly Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program)
OMB CONTROL NUMBER 0651-0058

A.

JUSTIFICATION

1.

Necessity of Information Collection

The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program was originally established between
the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Japan Patent Office
(JPO) on July 3, 2006. The PPH program allows applicants whose claims are determined
to be patentable in the office of first filing to have the corresponding application that is filed
in the office of second filing be advanced out of turn for examination. At the same time, the
PPH program allows the office of second filing to exploit the search and examination results
of the office of first filing, which increases examination efficiency and improves patent
quality. The USPTO and the JPO agreed at the November 2007 Trilateral Conference to
fully implement the PPH program on a permanent basis starting on January 4, 2008.
The USPTO entered into a PPH pilot program with the United Kingdom Intellectual Property
Office (UKIPO) on September 4, 2007. Additional PPH pilot programs have also recently
been established between the USPTO and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office
(CIPO), the Danish Patent and Trademark Office (DKPTO), the European Patent Office
(EPO), the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), and the Intellectual Property Office
of Australia (IPAU).
In addition to the PPH program, the USPTO and the JPO also participate in a work-sharing
pilot project called the "New Route." Under the New Route framework, a filing in one
member office of this arrangement would be deemed a filing in all member offices. The first
office and applicant would be given a 30-month processing time frame in which to make
available a first office action and any necessary translations to the second office(s), and the
second office(s) would exploit the search and examination results in conducting their own
examination. The New Route proposal permits the search and examination results of the
first office to be transmitted to the second office(s) according to an internationally
coordinated time frame. By allowing the second office to exploit the search and
examination results of the first office, the primary benefits of the New Route program would
be to reduce overall office workload, minimize duplication of search efforts, and increase
examination quality. Because the New Route, as envisioned, would require changes in law
in the USPTO and the JPO, the USPTO and the JPO agreed to commence a pilot project to
test the New Route concept based on filing scenarios currently available under existing law
in both offices. The New Route pilot project began on January 28, 2008, and will end when
the number of requests reaches 50 or at the expiration of one year, whichever occurs first.

This information collection previously included two forms, Request for Participation in the
New Route Pilot Program Between the JPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/10) and Request for
Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program Between the (1) JPO
or (2) UKIPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20), which may be used by applicants to request
participation in the programs and to ensure that they meet the program requirements.
Since the PPH program with the JPO has been fully implemented, Form PTO/SB/20 has
been revised as Form PTO/SB/20JP for use with the JPO and a separate Form
PTO/SB/20UK has been created for the ongoing pilot program with the UKIPO. Similar
forms have been created for the PPH pilot programs with the CIPO, the DKPTO, the EPO,
the KIPO, and the IPAU. These additional PPH pilot program forms are being added to this
collection.
The USPTO is undertaking another worksharing program with the EPO and the JPO called
the “Triway” program. Under the Triway framework, each Office will conduct searches on
corresponding applications filed under the Paris Convention in each of the Offices in a
sufficiently early time period. The search results will then be shared among the Offices in
order to reduce the search and examination workload. The Triway program at the USPTO
will accept up to 100 requests during the one-year pilot period. To support this program,
the USPTO is adding the Request for Participation in Triway Pilot Program Among the
USPTO, the EPO and the JPO (PTO/SB/12) to this collection.
Table 1 provides the statutes and regulations authorizing the USPTO to collect the
information discussed above:
Table 1: Information Requirements for the PPH Program
Requirement

Statute

Rule

Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program
Between the JPO and the USPTO

35 U.S.C. ' 119

37 CFR 1.55, 1.102(d) and 1.17(h)

Request for Participation in the Triway Pilot Program
Among the USPTO, the EPO, and the JPO

35 U.S.C. § 119

37 CFR 1.55, 1.102(d) and 1.17(h)

Request for Participation in the PPH Program Between
the USPTO and the JPO, UKIPO, CIPO, DKPTO, EPO,
KIPO, or IPAU

35 U.S.C. § 119

37 CFR 1.55, 1.102(d) and 1.17(h)

2.

Needs and Uses

This information collection is necessary so that patent applicants may participate in the
New Route, Triway, or PPH programs between the USPTO and other patent offices in
order to receive the benefits of more efficient examination. The USPTO will provide forms
to assist the public with submitting the required information for each program. The public
uses these forms to request participation in the program, submit the required materials, and
pay the appropriate petition fee.

2

The Information Quality Guidelines from Section 515 of Public Law 106-554, Treasury and
General Government Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2001, apply to this information
collection and comply with all applicable information quality guidelines, i.e. OMB and
specific operating unit guidelines.
This proposed collection of information will result in information that will be collected,
maintained, and used in a way consistent with all applicable OMB and USPTO Information
Quality Guidelines.
Table 2 outlines how this collection of information is used by the public and the USPTO:
Table 2: Needs and Uses of Information Collected for the PPH Program
Form and Function

Form #

Needs and Uses

Request for Participation in the New
Route Pilot Program Between the
JPO and the USPTO

PTO/SB/10

C

Request for Participation in Triway
Pilot Program Among the USPTO,
the EPO and the JPO

PTO/SB/12

Request for Participation in the
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Program Between the JPO and the
USPTO

PTO/SB/20JP

Request for Participation in the
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Pilot Program Between the UKIPO
and the USPTO

PTO/SB/20UK

Request for Participation in the
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Pilot Program Between the CIPO
and the USPTO

PTO/SB/20CA

Request for Participation in the
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Pilot Program Between the KIPO
and the USPTO

PTO/SB/20KR

Request for Participation in the
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Pilot Program Between the IPAU and
the USPTO

PTO/SB/20AU

Request for Participation in the
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Pilot Program Between the EPO and
the USPTO

PTO/SB/20EP

C

C
C

C
C

C
C

C
C

C
C

C
C

C
C

Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.
Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.
Used by the public to request participation in the program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.
Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.
Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.
Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.
Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.
Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.

3

Request for Participation in the
Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)
Pilot Program Between the DKPTO
and the USPTO

3.

PTO/SB/20DK

C
C

Used by the public to request participation in the pilot program,
submit the required materials, and pay the appropriate fee.
Used by the USPTO to determine whether the applicant is
eligible for the pilot program and to advance the examination of
eligible applications.

Use of Information Technology

Requests to participate in the New Route or Triway pilot programs must be submitted by
fax to the Office of the Commissioner for Patents to ensure that the request is processed in
a timely manner. The forms associated with this collection may be downloaded from the
USPTO web site in Portable Document Format (PDF), filled out electronically, and then
printed out for faxing to the USPTO. The USPTO will consider alternative methods of
submission under this program, including electronic submission, after the pilot periods have
concluded.
Requests to participate in the PPH programs must be submitted online using EFS-Web, the
USPTO’s web-based electronic filing system. EFS-Web allows customers to file patent
applications and associated documents electronically through their standard web browser.
Typically, the customer will prepare the forms or documents as standard PDF files and then
upload them to the USPTO servers using the secure EFS-Web interface. EFS-Web offers
many benefits to filers, including form validation to ensure that all required information has
been included, immediate notification that a submission has been received, automated
processing of requests, and avoidance of postage or other paper delivery costs.
4.

Efforts to Identify Duplication

The information collected is required to process requests to participate in the New Route,
Triway, or PPH programs and enable fast-track examination. This information is not
collected elsewhere and does not result in a duplication of effort. If any of the documents
required for participation in the programs have already been filed in the U.S. application,
the applicant will not need to resubmit those documents and may simply indicate in the
request for participation when the documents were previously filed.
5.

Minimizing the Burden to Small Entities

This collection does not impose a significant economic burden on small entities or small
businesses. The information required by this collection provides the USPTO with the
necessary materials for expediting the examination of applications that are eligible for the
programs. The same information is required from every applicant and is not available from
any other source.
6.

Consequences of Less Frequent Collection

This information is collected only when the public submits a request to participate in the
New Route, Triway, or PPH program. If this information were not collected, the USPTO
would not be able to fulfill its obligations under these programs and provide the ensuing
4

examination benefits to eligible applicants. This information could not be collected less
frequently.
7.

Special Circumstances in the Conduct of Information Collection

There are no special circumstances associated with this collection of information.
8.

Consultations Outside the Agency

The 60-Day Notice was published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg.
35661). The comment period ended on August 25, 2008. No public comments were
received.
The USPTO has long-standing relationships with groups from whom patent application data
is collected, such as the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), as well as
patent bar associations, independent inventor groups, and users of our public facilities.
Their views are expressed in regularly scheduled meetings and considered in developing
proposals for information collection requirements. There have been no comments or
concerns expressed by these or similar organizations concerning the time required to
provide the information required under this program.
9.

Payment or Gifts to Respondents

This information collection does not involve a payment or gift to any respondent.
10.

Assurance of Confidentiality

Confidentiality of patent applications is governed by statute (35 U.S.C. § 122) and
regulation (37 CFR 1.11 and 1.14). Upon publication of an application or issuance of a
patent, the entire patent application file is made available to the public, subject to provisions
for providing only a redacted copy of the file contents. The disclosure of the invention in
the application is the quid pro quo for the property right conferred by the patent grant and
the very means by which the patent statute achieves its constitutional objective of
“promot[ing] the progress of science and useful arts.” The prosecution history contained in
the application file is critical for determining the scope of the property right conferred by a
patent grant.
11.

Justification of Sensitive Questions

None of the required information in this collection is considered to be of a sensitive nature.

5

12.

Estimate of Hour and Cost Burden to Respondents

Table 3 calculates the burden hours and costs of this information collection to the public,
based on the following factors:
!

Respondent Calculation Factors
The USPTO estimates that it will receive approximately 1,350 total responses per year for
this collection, as outlined in Table 3 below.

!

Burden Hour Calculation Factors
The USPTO estimates that it will take the public approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to submit the
information in this collection, including the time to gather the necessary information, prepare
the appropriate form, and submit the completed request to the USPTO.

!

Cost Burden Calculation Factors
In 2007 the Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American Intellectual Property
Law Association published a report that summarized the results of a survey with data on
hourly billing rates. The professional rate of $310 per hour is the median rate for associate
attorneys in private firms as published in that report. The USPTO expects that the
information in this collection will be prepared by attorneys. This is a fully-loaded hourly rate.

Table 3: Burden Hours/Burden Costs to Respondents for the PPH Program
Item/Form No.

Hours
(a)

Responses
(yr)
(b)

Burden
(hrs/yr)
(c)
(a x b)

Rate
($/hr)
(d)

Total Cost
($/yr)
(e)
(c x d)

Request for Participation in the New
Route Pilot Program Between the JPO
and the USPTO (PTO/SB/10)

1.5

50

75

$310.00

$23,250.00

Request for Participation in Triway Pilot
Program Among the USPTO, the EPO
and the JPO (PTO/SB/12)

1.5

100

150

$310.00

$46,500.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program
Between the JPO and the USPTO
(PTO/SB/20JP)

2.0

500

1,000

$310.00

$310,000.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the UKIPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20UK)

2.0

100

200

$310.00

$62,000.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the CIPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20CA)

2.0

100

200

$310.00

$62,000.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the KIPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20KR)

2.0

200

400

$310.00

$124,000.00

6

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the IPAU and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20AU)

2.0

100

200

$310.00

$62,000.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the EPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20EP)

2.0

100

200

$310.00

$62,000.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the DKPTO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20DK)

2.0

100

200

$310.00

$62,000.00

------------

1,350

2,625

------------

$813,750.00

Totals

Requests for participation in the PPH program, which account for 89% of the total
responses for this collection, will be submitted electronically via EFS-Web.
The proposed additions to this information collection, plus the approved burden in the
current inventory, will result in the total burden estimates shown below:
Current inventory responses = 800
Current inventory burden hours = 1,575
Current inventory burden hour costs = $478,800
Impact on responses due to the proposed addition = increase of 550
Impact on burden hours due to the proposed addition = increase of 1,050
Impact on burden hour costs due to the proposed addition = increase of $334,950
Total estimated responses after the proposed addition = 1,350
Total estimated burden hours after the proposed addition = 2,625
Total estimated burden hour costs after the proposed addition = $813,750
13.

Total Annualized (Non-hour) Cost Burden

There are no capital start-up, maintenance, or postage costs associated with this collection.
However, this collection does have annual (non-hour) costs in the form of petition fees and
recordkeeping costs.
The petition fee for requests to participate in the New Route, PPH, or Triway programs is
$130 under 37 CFR 1.17(h). Using the $130 fee, the USPTO estimates that the total fees
for this collection would be $175,500 per year.

7

There are also recordkeeping costs associated with submitting the PPH forms in this
collection online through EFS-Web. When submitting forms through EFS-Web, the USPTO
recommends that customers print and retain a copy of the acknowledgment receipt as
evidence of the successful submission. The USPTO estimates that it will take 5 seconds
(0.001 hours) to print a copy of the acknowledgment receipt and that approximately 1,200
submissions in this collection will be filed online, for a total of approximately 1 hour per
year. The USPTO expects that these receipts will be printed by paraprofessionals at an
estimated rate of $100 per hour, for a total recordkeeping cost of $100 per year.
The total (non-hour) respondent cost burden for this collection in the form of fees and
recordkeeping costs is estimated to be $175,600 per year.
Currently approved annual (non-hour) costs = $104,000
Impact due to the proposed addition = increase of $71,600
Total estimated annual (non-hour) costs after the proposed addition = $175,600
14.

Annual Cost to the Federal Government

Requests for participation in the New Route and Triway pilot programs will be processed by
a combination of Senior Level and GS-15, step 1 employees, and the USPTO estimates
that it will take approximately one hour on average to process a request. The estimated
hourly rate for a Senior Level employee is approximately $74.33 and the rate for a GS-15,
step 1 is currently $55.25, for an average rate of $64.79. When 30% is added to account
for a fully-loaded hourly rate (benefits and overhead), the hourly rate for processing these
items is $84.23 ($64.79 + $19.44).
The USPTO estimates that it will take a GS-15, step 1 employee approximately one hour
on average to process a request for participation in the PPH Program. The hourly rate for a
GS-15, step 1 is currently $55.25. When 30% is added to account for a fully-loaded hourly
rate (benefits and overhead), the hourly rate for processing these items is $71.83 ($55.25 +
$16.58).
Table 5 calculates the burden hours and costs to the Federal Government for processing
this information collection:
Table 5: Burden Hours/Burden Costs to the Federal Government for the PPH Program
Item/Form No.

Hours
(a)

Responses
(yr)
(b)

Burden
(hrs/yr)
(c)
(a x b)

Rate
($/hr)
(d)

Total Cost
($/yr)
(e)
(c x d)

Request for Participation in the New
Route Pilot Program Between the JPO
and the USPTO (PTO/SB/10)

1.0

50

50

$84.23

$4,212.00

Request for Participation in Triway Pilot
Program Among the USPTO, the EPO
and the JPO (PTO/SB/12)

1.0

100

100

$84.23

$8,423.00

8

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program
Between the JPO and the USPTO
(PTO/SB/20JP)

1.0

500

500

$71.83

$35,915.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the UKIPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20UK)

1.0

100

100

$71.83

$7,183.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the CIPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20CA)

1.0

100

100

$71.83

$7,183.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the KIPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20KR)

1.0

200

200

$71.83

$14,366.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the IPAU and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20AU)

1.0

100

100

$71.83

$7,183.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the EPO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20EP)

1.0

100

100

$71.83

$7,183.00

Request for Participation in the Patent
Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot
Program Between the DKPTO and the
USPTO (PTO/SB/20DK)

1.0

100

100

$71.83

$7,183.00

------------

1,350

1,350

------------

$98,831.00

Totals

Current government cost burden = $55,067
Impact due to the proposed addition = increase of $43,764
Total estimated government cost burden after the proposed addition = $98,831
15.

Reason for Changes in Annual Burden

Summary of Changes Since the Previous Renewal
•

December 2006: New collection approved by OMB with a total of 500 responses
and 1,000 burden hours per year.

•

August 2007: OMB approved a change worksheet that increased the total burden
by 250 responses and 500 burden hours due to the revision of Form PTO/SB/20 to
accommodate participation in the PPH Program by the UKIPO.

•

July 2008: OMB approved the addition of the Request for Participation in the New
Route Pilot Program Between the JPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/10), which
increased the total burden by 50 responses and 75 burden hours.

•

Currently: Approved with a total of 800 responses and 1,575 burden hours per year.
9

For this proposed addition, the USPTO estimates that the total annual responses will be
1,350 and the total annual burden hours will be 2,625, which is an increase of 550
responses and 1,050 hours from the currently approved burden for this collection. The
increase in burden hours is due to program changes.
The total annual (non-hour) cost burden for this renewal of $175,600 is an increase of
$71,600 over the current approved total of $104,000 in annual (non-hour) costs for this
collection. This increase in annual costs for the current renewal is due to program
changes.
Changes from the 60-Day Notice
Since the 60-Day Notice was published, the USPTO has decided to revise the response
estimates for Form PTO/SB/20UK and Form PTO/SB/20KR. The response estimates for
PTO/SB/20UK have been reduced from 250 to 100 per year, and the estimates for
PTO/SB/20KR have been reduced from 250 to 200 per year. The USPTO is also
proposing to add three additional items to this collection: Request for Participation in the
Triway Pilot Program Among the USPTO, the EPO and the JPO (PTO/SB/12), Request for
Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program Between the DKPTO
and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20DK), and Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution
Highway (PPH) Pilot Program Between the EPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20EP). The
estimated paraprofessional rate used to calculate recordkeeping costs as part of the annual
(non-hour) cost burden of this collection has also increased from $90 to $100.
The net result of these changes is that the total annual responses for this collection have
been increased from what was reported in the 60-Day Notice, from 1,250 to 1,350, and the
total burden hours have been increased from 2,475 to 2,625. In addition, the total annual
respondent cost burden has been increased from $767,250 to $813,750, and the total
annual (non-hour) cost burden has been increased from $162,590 to $175,600.
Change in Respondent Cost Burden
The total respondent cost burden for providing this information to the USPTO has
increased by $334,950 from the currently approved inventory for this collection. The
estimated rate for associate attorneys preparing the information in this collection has
increased from $304 to $310 per hour, and the total burden hours have increased from
1,575 to 2,625. The increase in estimated hourly rates for attorneys and the increase in
total burden hours have resulted in an increase of the total respondent cost burden for this
collection from $478,800 to $813,750 per year.
Changes in Responses and Burden Hours
For this proposed addition, the USPTO estimates that the annual responses for this
collection will increase by 550, from 800 to 1,350, and the total annual burden hours will
10

increase by 1,050, from 1,575 to 2,625. This increase in burden hours is due to program
changes. The changes in burden for the requirements in this collection are as follows:
$

The USPTO does not expect any changes in the estimates for the Request for
Participation in the New Route Pilot Program Between the JPO and the USPTO
(PTO/SB/10).

$

The USPTO is proposing to add the Request for Participation in Triway Pilot
Program Among the USPTO, the EPO and the JPO (PTO/SB/12) to this collection.
Therefore, this collection takes a burden increase of 150 hours as a program
change.

$

The USPTO estimates that the annual responses for the Request for Participation in
the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program Between the JPO and the USPTO
(PTO/SB/20JP) will decrease by 250, from 750 to 500, due to the creation of the
separate form for the PPH program with UKIPO. Therefore, this collection takes
a burden decrease of 500 hours as a program change.

$

The USPTO is proposing to add requests for participation in the PPH programs with
the CIPO, the DKPTO, the EPO, the KIPO, and the IPAU to this collection, along
with a new separate form for requests for participation in the PPH program with the
UKIPO. Therefore, this collection takes a burden increase of 1,400 hours as a
program change.

In sum, this information collection has a total net burden increase of 1,050 hours due
to program changes.
Changes in Annual (Non-hour) Costs
For this renewal, the USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) costs for this
collection will increase by $71,600, from $104,000 to $175,600 per year. The increase in
total annual (non-hour) costs is due to program changes, as follows:
$

The total fees will increase from $104,000 to $175,500 due to the additional filings
for the new items being added to this collection. Therefore, this collection takes a
burden increase of $71,500 in fees as a program change.

$

There will be recordkeeping costs added to this collection associated with the
submission of PPH requests to the USPTO via EFS-Web and the recommendation
that customers print and retain a copy of the acknowledgement receipt generated for
electronic submissions. Therefore, this collection takes a burden increase of
$100 in recordkeeping costs as a program change.

In sum, this collection has a total increase in annual (non-hour) cost burden of
$71,600 due to program changes.
11

16.

Project Schedule

The USPTO does not plan to publish this information for statistical use or any other
purpose.
17.

Display of Expiration Date of OMB Approval

The forms in this information collection will display the OMB Control Number and the
expiration date.
18.

Exceptions to the Certificate Statement

This collection of information does not include any exceptions to the certificate statement.

B.

COLLECTION OF INFORMATION EMPLOYING STATISTICAL METHODS

This collection of information does not employ statistical methods.

12

REFERENCES

A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.

The USPTO Information Quality Guidelines
Request for Participation in the New Route Pilot Program Between the JPO and
the USPTO (PTO/SB/10)
Request for Participation in Triway Pilot Program Among the USPTO, the EPO and
the JPO (PTO/SB/12)
Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Program
Between the JPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20JP)
Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program
Between the UKIPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20UK)
Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program
Between the CIPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20CA)
Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program
Between the KIPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20KR)
Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program
Between the IPAU and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20AU)
Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program
Between the EPO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20EP)
Request for Participation in the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) Pilot Program
Between the DKPTO and the USPTO (PTO/SB/20DK)
60-Day Notice published in the Federal Register on June 24, 2008 (73 Fed. Reg.
35661)

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