Patents for Humanity Program

ICR 202109-0651-004

OMB: 0651-0066

Federal Form Document

Forms and Documents
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Supplementary Document
2022-02-18
Supplementary Document
2022-02-18
Supplementary Document
2022-02-18
Supporting Statement A
2022-02-18
ICR Details
0651-0066 202109-0651-004
Received in OIRA 201811-0651-003
DOC/PTO
Patents for Humanity Program
Revision of a currently approved collection   No
Regular 02/18/2022
  Requested Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved 02/28/2022
115 55
428 205
0 0

Since 2012, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has conducted the Patents for Humanity Program, an annual award program to incentivize the distribution of patented technologies or products for the purpose of addressing humanitarian needs. The program is open to any patent owners or patent licensees, including inventors who have not assigned their ownership rights to others, assignees, and exclusive or non-exclusive licenses. USPTO collects information from applicants that describe what actions they have taken with their patented technology to address the welfare of impoverished populations, or how they furthered research by others on technologies for humanitarian purposes. There are numerous categories of awards including: Medicine, Nutrition, Sanitation, Household Energy, and Living Standards. Sometimes the program includes additional categories specific for that year, for example COVID–19. This information collection covers two application forms for the Patents for Humanity Program. The first application covers the humanitarian uses of technologies or products, and the second application covers humanitarian research. In both, applicants are required to describe how their technology or product satisfies the program criteria to address humanitarian issues. Additionally, applicants must provide non-public contact information in order for USPTO to notify them about their award status. Applicants may optionally provide contact information for the public to reach them with any inquiries. Applications must be submitted via email and will be posted on USPTO’s website. Qualified judges from outside USPTO will review and score the applications. USPTO will then forward the top-scoring applications to reviewers from participating Federal agencies to recommend award recipients. Winners are invited to participate in an awards ceremony at USPTO. Those applications that are chosen for an award will receive a certificate redeemable to accelerate select matters before USPTO. The certificates can be redeemed to accelerate one of the following matters: An ex parte reexamination proceeding, including one appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) from that proceeding; a patent application, including one appeal to the PTAB from that application; or an appeal to the PTAB of a claim twice rejected in a patent application or reissue application or finally rejected in an ex parte reexamination, without accelerating the underlying matter which generated the appeal. This information collection also covers the information gathered in petitions to extend an acceleration certificate redemption beyond 12 months. Finally, winners are now able to transfer their certificates to third parties, including by sale, due to the January 2021 passage of the Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act.

US Code: 35 USC 3(a)(2) Name of Law: Leahy Smith America Invents Act
   PL: Pub.L. 116 - 316 1 and 2 Name of Law: Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act
  
None

Not associated with rulemaking

  86 FR 67927 11/30/2021
87 FR 9326 02/18/2022
Yes

14
IC Title Form No. Form Name
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (Federal Government) PTO PFH 002 Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (Individuals or Households) PTO PFH 002 Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (Private Sector) PTO PFH 002 Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Research) (State, Local, and Tribal Governments) PTO PFH 002 Humanitarian Research Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (Federal Government) PTO PFH 001 Humanitarian Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (Individuals or Households) PTO PFH 001 Humanitarian Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (Private Sector) PTO PFH 001 Humanitarian Use Application
Humanitarian Program Application (Humanitarian Use) (State, Local, and Tribal Governments) PTO PFH 001 Humanitarian Use Application
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (Federal Government) PTO SB 431 Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (Individuals or Households) PTO SB 431 Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (Private Sector) PTO SB 431 Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (State, Local, and Tribal Governments) PTO SB 431 Petition to Extend the Redemption Period
Transfer of Awards Certificate (Individuals or Households)
Transfer of Awards Certificate (Private Sector)

  Total Request 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 115 55 0 4 56 0
Annual Time Burden (Hours) 428 205 0 2 221 0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars) 0 0 0 0 0 0
Yes
Miscellaneous Actions
No
Changes in Annual Number of Responses, Annual Time Burden, and Annual Cost Burden due to Agency Discretion USPTO adds one item to this information collection to cover the transfer of award certificates. This additional item adds 4 responses and 2 burden hours to the overall estimates. There are no changes in USPTO estimates for the total annual (non-hour) costs. Changes in Estimated Annual Number of Responses, Annual Time Burden, and Annual Cost Burden due to Adjustment in Agency Estimate Increases in the number of responses (+56) and burden hours (+221) are due to the estimated normal fluctuation in the number of responses for the items in this information collection. USPTO believes this rise in participation is due to additional categories being added to the program and increased interest from the public in the program. There are no changes in USPTO estimates for the total annual (non-hour) costs.

$433
No
    Yes
    Yes
No
No
No
No
Soma Saha 571 272-9300

  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:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    (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.
02/18/2022


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