Green Technology Pilot Program

[Federal Register: January 12, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 7)]
[Notices][Page 1591-1592]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja10-39]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Patent and Trademark Office
Green Technology Pilot Program

ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.

To view the complete text of this comment request see:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2010_register&docid=fr12ja10-39


SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the new information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C.3506(c)(2)(A)).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before March 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:

• E-mail: Susan.Fawcett@uspto.gov. Include A0651-0062 Green
  Technology Pilot Program comment@ in the subject line of the message.
  
• Fax: 571-273-0112, marked to the attention of Susan K.
  Fawcett.
  
• Mail: Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the
  Chief Information Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office,
  P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.
  
• Federal Rulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be directed to Brian Hanlon, Director, Office of Patent Legal Administration, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by telephone at 571-272-5047; or by e-mail at Brian.Hanlon@uspto.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Abstract

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is implementing a streamlined examination pilot program for patent applications pertaining to green technologies, including greenhouse gas reduction.
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The green technology pilot program will permit patent applications pertaining to green technology, i.e., environmental quality, energy conservation, development of renewable energy, or greenhouse gas emission reduction, to be accorded special status for examination using an expedited procedure that is similar to the existing first action interview pilot program without meeting the current requirements of the accelerated examination program. The first action interview pilot and accelerated examination programs are both covered under OMB Control Number 0651-0031.

This pilot will support national and international green technology initiatives and is expected to run for six months.