OMB files this
comment in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.11( c ). This OMB action is
not an approval to conduct or sponsor an information collection
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. This action has no
effect on any current approvals. If OMB has assigned this ICR a new
OMB Control Number, the OMB Control Number will not appear in the
active inventory. For future submissions of this information
collection, reference the OMB Control Number provided. Resubmit
when proposed rule is finalized.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2014
03/31/2014
03/31/2014
1,225
0
1,225
9,350
0
9,350
35,590
0
35,590
The United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO) is required by 35 U.S.C. 131 et seq. to examine an
application for patent and, when appropriate, issue a patent. The
provisions of 35 U.S.C. 122(c) and 37 CFR 1.99 and 1.291 govern the
ability of a third party to have information entered and considered
in, or to protest, a patent application pending before the USPTO.
On September 16, 2011, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA)
was enacted into law, which provides a new mechanism for third
parties to submit to the USPTO, for consideration and inclusion in
the record of a patent application, patents, published patent
applications, or other printed publication of potential relevance
to the examination of the application. Specifically, Section 8 of
the Leahy-Smith AIA amends 35 U.S.C. 122 by adding 35 U.S.C.
122(e), which enumerates certain conditions that apply to a
third-party preissuance submission to the USPTO. The USPTO proposes
to implement 35 U.S.C. 122(e) in a new rule 37 CFR 1.290 and to
eliminate 37 CFR 1.99. Section 8 of the AIA takes effect of
September 16, 2012, and applies to any patent application filed
before, on, or after the effective date.
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.