Notice2026-19576
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Generic Clearance for Information Pertaining to Events, Registrations, and Programs
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 24, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentPatent and Trademark Office
Abstract
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter "USPTO" or "Agency"), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, invites comments on the proposed information collection: 0651-New (Generic Clearance for Information Pertaining to Events, Registrations, and Programs). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comments preceding submission of the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 184 (Thursday, September 24, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60601-60602]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-19576]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Generic Clearance for Information Pertaining to Events,
Registrations, and Programs
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of
Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of information collection; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter
``USPTO'' or ``Agency''), as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of
1995, invites comments on the proposed information collection: 0651-New
(Generic Clearance for Information Pertaining to Events, Registrations,
and Programs). The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for
public comments preceding submission of the information collection to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
DATES: To ensure consideration, you must submit comments regarding this
information collection on or before November 23, 2026.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments by
any of the following methods. Do not submit Confidential Business
Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#622b0c040d100f03160b0d0c210d0e0e0701160b0d0c22171112160d4c050d14"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3d74535b524f505c495452537e525151585e495452537d484e4d4952135a524b">[email protected]</span></a>. Include ``0651-New
comment'' in the subject line of the message.
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
<bullet> Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
<bullet> Telephone: Drew Hall, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, 571-270-1715.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Drew Hall at: Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; 571-270-1715; or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2b6f594e5c05634a47471a6b5e585b5f44054c445d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="60241205174e28010c0c5120151310140f4e070f16">[email protected]</span></a> with
``0651-New comment'' in the subject line. Additional information about
this information collection is available at <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov">https://www.reginfo.gov</a>
under ``Information Collection Review.''
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Abstract
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) directly
sponsors and organizes events, including research-related initiatives,
meetings, workshops, presentations, panels, advisory committees, and
outreach events. The USPTO routinely registers attendees for these
events. This new generic clearance request will allow the USPTO to
provide a quick and efficient process for the approval of registration
and application forms for USPTO-sponsored events that go beyond what is
necessary to register. This also includes one-time miscellaneous forms
that are primarily of an administrative nature and are necessary to
achieve mission objectives. The information provided to the USPTO will
have no effect on an individual's application for other USPTO programs
or benefits.
The USPTO seeks to collect common data from interested respondents
such as name, organization, email address, phone number, address,
country, state, city or town, special accommodation requests, and how
the respondent became aware of the pertinent event or conference. The
information will be used by the USPTO to assess attendance, to make
logistical arrangements for events such as venue selection and seating,
and to enable USPTO staff to adequately prepare and facilitate post-
event follow-ups. Additionally, the information will help ensure that
participants have an effective, efficient, and satisfying experience
with USPTO programs and services. If applicable, the information
collection may be used to facilitate respondents' payment for travel
and hotel expenses.
As part of this proposed information collection, the USPTO seeks,
when applicable, to receive greater feedback from those respondents
participating in USPTO programs. To obtain such feedback, the USPTO may
solicit or receive other respondent background information such as
their group size, sector experience, and experience with USPTO
services. Depending on the topic of the program(s), the USPTO may also
ask respondents about topics specific to the nature of the USPTO
programs and services.
In addition to hosting events, the USPTO also participates in
events organized by outside groups such as universities, trade
associations, and businesses. As part of this information collection,
the USPTO may use speaker invitation forms, questionnaires, and related
items to learn more about these organizations and to determine if they
will provide beneficial opportunities for the mission and goals of the
agency.
This information collection covers a variety of methods used by the
USPTO to register or involve the public in its events and programs. The
estimated number of annual responses and burden hours requested in this
information collection are based on estimates from other Department of
Commerce and USPTO generic clearances. Each specific request for
clearance under this generic information collection will detail
estimates with the following information: respondent types, number of
respondents, number of responses, time per response, burden hours, and
associated costs.
II. Method of Collection
Items in this information collection may be submitted
electronically, by phone, or in paper form by mail, fax, or hand
delivery.
III. Data
OMB Control Number: 0651-New.
Forms: None.
Type of Review: New information collection.
Affected Public: Private sector.
Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.
Frequency: On occasion.
Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 100,000 respondents.
Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 100,000 responses.
Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses
in this information collection will take the public approximately 5
minutes (0.08 hours) to complete. This includes the time to gather the
necessary information, create the document(s), and submit the completed
item to the USPTO.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 8,333 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Hourly Cost Burden: $2,072,500.
The USPTO estimates the hourly cost burden for this information
collection uses a blended rate for the respondent cost burden
calculations, averaging the rates of attorneys, paralegals, and pro se
[[Page 60602]]
respondents. Each specific request for clearance under this generic
information collection will detail estimates for the hourly cost
burden.
The USPTO uses an attorney rate of $550 per hour, which is the
average billing rate for intellectual property work in all firms as
shown in the 2025 Report of the Economic Survey published by the
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).\1\ The hourly
rate for paraprofessionals/paralegals is estimated at $134 as shown in
the 2024 Utilization and Compensation Survey published by the National
Association of Legal Assistants (NALA).\2\ The USPTO derives the pro se
wage rate from the mean hourly wage ($62.13) for physical scientists
according to the data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).\3\
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\1\ 2025 Report of the Economic Survey, published by the
Committee on Economics of Legal Practice of the American
Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA); pg. F-35. (<a href="https://www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/economic-survey/2025-report-of-the-economic-survey">https://www.aipla.org/home/news-publications/economic-survey/2025-report-of-the-economic-survey</a>).
\2\ 2024 National Utilization & Compensation Report Executive
Summary published by the National Association of Legal Assistants
(NALA); pg. 2. (<a href="https://nala.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-NALA-Compensation-Utilization-Report-ExecSumm-FINAL-1-15-25.pdf">https://nala.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-NALA-Compensation-Utilization-Report-ExecSumm-FINAL-1-15-25.pdf</a>).
\3\ The USPTO uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)
Occupation Employment Statistics wage category 19-2099 (Physical
scientists, all other), from the May 2025 OEWS Profiles; <a href="https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?major_group=190000&occupation=192099&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA">https://data.bls.gov/oesprofile/?major_group=190000&occupation=192099&measure=01&areas=INDUSTRY,STATE,MSA</a>.
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The combined average of these respondent rates is $248.71. Using
this blended hourly rate, the USPTO estimates that the total respondent
cost burden for this information collection is $2,072,500 per year.
Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-hourly Cost Burden: $0. Each
specific request for clearance under this generic information
collection will detail estimates for cost burden. Typically, there will
be no non-hourly cost burden on the public.
IV. Request for Comments
The USPTO is soliciting public comments to:
(a) Evaluate whether the collection of information is necessary for
the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
(b) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
(c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
(d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who intend to respond, including through the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.
All comments submitted in response to this notice are a matter of
public record. The USPTO will include or summarize each comment in the
request to OMB to approve this information collection. Before including
an address, phone number, email address, or other personally
identifiable information (PII) in a comment, be advised that the entire
comment--including PII--may be made publicly available at any time.
While one may request in a comment to withhold PII from public view,
the USPTO cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
Justin Isaac,
Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2026-19576 Filed 9-23-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P
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