Monday, March 30, 2009

[Federal Register: March 20, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 53)]
[Notices][Page 11919-11920]

The complete notice is available at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2009_register&docid=fr20mr09-34
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of proposed new Privacy Act system of records.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is giving notice of a new system of records that is subject to the Privacy Act of 1974. The information in this system of records is used to disseminate information to customers who have made online information requests, registered for access to information available through web portals provided by the USPTO, subscribed to news updates, or have otherwise provided contact information in order to access or receive information from the USPTO.

The proposed new system of records, ``COMMERCE/PAT-TM-23 User Access for Web Portals and Information Requests,'' is published in its entirety (at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2009_register&docid=fr20mr09-34).

Patent & Trademark Public Advisory Committees

[Federal Register: March 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 52)]
[Notices][Page 11718-11719]

For the complete notice access: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2009_register&docid=fr19mr09-41

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office
[PTO-C-2009-0009]

Public Advisory Committees

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office.
ACTION: Notice and request for nominations for Public Advisory Committees.
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SUMMARY: On November 29, 1999, the President signed into law the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act (the ``Act''), Public Law 106-113, which, among other things, established two Public Advisory Committees to review the policies, goals, performance, budget and user fees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, and to advise the Director on these matters (now codified at 35 U.S.C. 5). Due to the expiration of current members' terms, the USPTO is requesting nominations for three (3) members to the Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) and two (2) members to the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) for terms of three years that begin from date of appointment.

DATES: Nominations must be postmarked or electronically transmitted on or before May 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to submit nominations should send the nominee's resume to Chief of Staff, Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450; by electronic mail to: PPACnominations@uspto.gov for the Patent Public Advisory Committee or TPACnominations@uspto.gov for the Trademark Patent Public Advisory Committee; by facsimile transmission marked to the Chief of Staff's attention at (571) 273-0464, or by mail marked to the Chief of Staff's attention and addressed to the Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Post Office, Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450. Self-nominations are perfectly acceptable.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eleanor K. Meltzer, Chief of Staff, by facsimile transmission marked to her attention at (571) 273-0464, by mail marked to her attention and addressed to the Office of the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO, Post Office Box 1450, Alexandria, Virginia 22313-1450, or by telephone at: (571) 272-7660.

National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination

[Federal Register: March 19, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 52)]
[Notices][Page 11717-11718]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

To see the complete commment request access: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2009_register&docid=fr19mr09-40

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office

National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination
Application

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The National Medal of Technology is the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States to America's leading innovators. Established by an Act of Congress in 1980, the Medal of Technology was first awarded in 1985. The Medal is given annually to individuals, teams, and/or companies/divisions for their outstanding contributions to the Nation's economic, environmental and social well-being through the development and commercialization of technology products, processes and concepts, technological innovation, and development of the Nation's technological manpower.

The purpose of the National Medal of Technology is to recognize those who have made lasting contributions to America's competitiveness, standard of living, and quality of life through technological innovation, and to recognize those who have made substantial contributions to strengthening the Nation's technological workforce. By highlighting the national importance of technological innovation, the Medal also seeks to inspire future generations of Americans to prepare for and pursue technical careers to keep America at the forefront of global technology and economic leadership.

The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Evaluation Committee, a distinguished, independent committee appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, reviews and evaluates the merit of all candidates nominated through an open, competitive solicitation process. The committee makes its recommendations for Medal candidates to the Secretary of Commerce, who in turn makes recommendations to the
President for final selection. The National Medal of Technology and Innovation Laureates are announced by the White House and the Department of Commerce once the Medalists are notified of their selection.

The public uses the National Medal of Technology and Innovation Nomination Application to recognize through nomination an individual's or company's extraordinary leadership and innovation in technological achievement. The application must be accompanied by six letters of recommendation or support from individuals who have firsthand knowledge of the cited achievement(s).


II. Method of Collection

The nomination application and instructions can be downloaded from the USPTO Web site. Nomination files should be submitted by electronic mail. Alternatively, letters of recommendation may be sent by electronic mail, fax or overnight delivery.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

National Inventors Hall of Fame Moved to USPTO

The National Inventors Hall of Fame has relocated to the museum at the USPTO campus in Alexandria, Virginia. To celebrate the move, the Hall of Fame created a new display about its inductees entitled "Inventive Links." The display shows how the inventions, patents, trademarks, and circumstances of the lives of the almost 400 inventors inducted into the Hall of Fame are interconnected. It reveals how their seemingly unrelated inventions have led to major technological achievements. Information about inductees' lives is also available from an interactive kiosk.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Comments - Deferred Examination for Patent Applications

[Federal Register: March 9, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 44)] [Notices] [Page 10036]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr09mr09-39]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
[Docket No.: PTO-P-2008-0063]
Extension of Time for Comments on Deferred Examination for Patent Applications
AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.
ACTION: Request for comments; extension of comment period.
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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) conducted a roundtable to obtain public input on deferral of examination for patent applications, and invited the public to submit written comments on issues raised at the roundtable or on any issue pertaining to deferral of examination. Comment Deadline Date: The deadline for receipt of written comments is May 29, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to AC6comments@uspto.gov. Comments may also be submitted by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments--Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked to the attention of Robert W. Bahr. Although comments may be submitted by mail, the USPTO prefers to receive comments via the Internet. The written comments and list of the roundtable participants and their associations will be available for public inspection at the Office of the Commissioner for Patents, located in Madison East, Tenth Floor, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia, and will be available via the USPTO Internet Web site (address: http://www.uspto.gov). Because comments will be made available for public inspection, information that is not desired to be made public, such as an address or phone number, should not be included in the comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert W. Bahr, Senior Patent Counsel, Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Patent Examination Policy, by telephone at (571) 272-8800, by electronic mail message at robert.bahr@uspto.gov, or by mail addressed to: Mail Stop Comments-- Patents, Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313- 1450, marked to the attention of Robert W. Bahr.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The USPTO conducted a roundtable to determine whether or not there is support in the patent community and/ or the public sector for the adoption of some type of deferral of examination. See Request for Comments and Notice of Roundtable on Deferred Examination for Patent Applications, 74 FR 4946 (Jan. 28, 2009), 1339 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office 153 (Feb. 24, 2009) (notice). The USPTO also invited written comments by any member of the public on the issues raised at the roundtable, or on any issue pertaining to deferral of examination. See Request for Comments and Notice of Roundtable on Deferred Examination for Patent Applications, 74 FR at 4947, 1339 Off. Gaz. Pat. Office at 154. The USPTO Webcast the roundtable and a video recording of the roundtable is available on the USPTO's Internet Web site. The USPTO is extending the comment period to provide interested members of the public with an additional opportunity to view the Webcast before submitting comments to the USPTO.
Dated: March 3, 2009. John J. Doll, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. E9-4897 Filed 3-6-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

EPO's New Patent Valuation Tool

Individual inventors and small to mid-sized companies might be interested in a new tool from the European Patent Office (EPO) that aids in estimating the value of a patent or of a company's patent portfolio. A press release from the EPO states that IPscore "uses 40 factors to assess each patent and visualises the input in spider and portfolio diagrams." To explain how to use the tool, the EPO has posted a brief introductory video entitled "Patent Portfolio Management with IPscore." The EOP is also hosting an online virtual classroom session and a two-day training course. Further information is available from IPscore