Patents External Quality Survey

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status

No forms / supporting documents in this ICR. Check IC Document Collections.

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43582	Patents External Quality Survey Other-Survey Invitation	Modified
275887	Patents External Quality Survey (New panel in current year, surveyed once in Wave 2) Form	Removed
275886	Patents External Quality Survey (Present in Wave 1 and Wave 2 in current year) Form	Removed

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 0651-0057	ICR Reference No: 202512-0651-003
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202504-0651-002
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Patents External Quality Survey
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 03/04/2026

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	09/30/2028	09/30/2028
Responses	1,250	1,000
Time Burden (Hours)	208	171
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

---

Abstract: This United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) External Quality Survey is an instrument designed to measure opinions about the services that USPTO provides its patent application customers. The results from this voluntary survey will assist the USPTO in guiding improvements and enhancements in the future. This survey narrows the focus of customer satisfaction to examination quality. It also uses a longitudinal, rotating panel design to assess changes in customer perceptions and to identify key areas for examiner training and opportunities for improvement. The USPTO uses this survey to identify problems with examination quality and works to resolve these issues in a timely manner. The USPTO surveys patent agents, attorneys, and other individuals from large domestic corporations (including those with over 500 employees), small and medium-size businesses, independent inventors, and universities and other non-profit research organizations. This survey does not request responses from foreign entities.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): EO: EO 12862 Name/Subject of EO: Setting Customer Service Standards
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 18648	05/01/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 34643	07/23/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Patents External Quality Survey
Patents External Quality Survey (New panel in current year, surveyed once in Wave 2)	PTO/2325	Patents External Quality Survey
Patents External Quality Survey (Present in Wave 1 and Wave 2 in current year)	PTO/2325	Patent External Quality Survey

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	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	1,250	1,000	0	250	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	208	171	0	37	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: The survey will now utilize an opt-in approach which will allow attorneys/agents to respond to the survey who would otherwise were not selected by the panel design. The total number of estimated responses has increased by 250 due to the USPTO changing the method of collection, and this increase in the number of responses results in a corresponding increase of 37 hours in the annual time burden estimates.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $332,637

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? Yes Part B of Supporting Statement

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

---

Common Form ICR:  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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 03/04/2026

---

Something went wrong when downloading this file. If you have any questions, please send an email to [email protected].