[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 195 (Friday, October 7, 2011)]
[Notices][Pages 62387-62388][FR Doc No: 2011-26014]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Public User ID Badging
ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request.
To see the complete text of this comment request access: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=2011_register&docid=2011-26014.
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The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is required by 35 U.S.C. 41(i)(1) to maintain a Public Search Facility to provide patent and trademark collections for searching and retrieval of information. The Public Search Facility is maintained for public use with paper and electronic search files and trained staff to assist searchers. The USPTO also offers training courses to assist the public with using the advanced electronic search systems available at the
facility.
In order to manage the patent and trademark collections that are available to the public, the USPTO issues online access cards to customers who wish to use the electronic search systems at the Public Search Facility. Customers may obtain an online access card by completing the application at the Public Search Facility reference desk and providing proper identification. The plastic online access cards
include a bar-coded user number and an expiration date. Users may renew their cards by validating and updating the required information and may obtain a replacement for a lost card by providing proper identification.
Under the authority provided in 41 CFR 102-81, the USPTO issues security identification badges to members of the public who wish to use the facilities at the USPTO. Public users may apply for a security badge in person at the USPTO Office of Security by providing the necessary information and presenting a valid form of identification with photograph. The security badges include a color photograph of the user and must be worn at all times while at the USPTO facilities.
In January 2011, the USPTO discontinued the $120 fee for users requesting private instruction for the online search systems available at the Public Search Facility. Therefore, the private instruction fee is being deleted from this collection.