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 COVIDâ19. 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 USPTOâs 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.
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.
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Soma Saha 571 272-9300
Reginfo record details
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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.
Petition to Extend the Redemption Period of the Humanitarian Awards Certificate (Federal Government)