Admission to Practice and
Roster of Registered Patent Attorneys and Agents Admitted to
Practice Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
02/26/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
02/28/2021
30,727
19,944
18,188
21,749
875,706
1,540,328
This collection of information is
required by 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)(D), which permits the United States
Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to establish regulations
governing the recognition and conduct of agents, attorneys, or
other persons representing applicants or other parties before the
USPTO. This statute also permits the USPTO to require information
from applicants that shows that they are of good moral character
and reputation and have the necessary qualifications to assist
applicants with the patent process and to represent them before the
USPTO. This information collection addresses submissions required
by the regulations at 37 CFR 1.21, 10.14, and 11.5-11.11, which set
forth the requirements to apply for the examination for
registration and to demonstrate eligibility to be a registered
attorney or agent before the USPTO, including the fee requirements.
The Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) collects this
information to determine the qualifications of individuals entitled
to represent applicants before the USPTO in the preparation and
prosecution of applications for a patent. The OED also collects
this information to administer and maintain the public roster of
attorneys and agents registered to practice before the USPTO, which
is accessible through the USPTO website. The information in this
information collection is used by the USPTO to review applications
for the examination for registration and to determine whether an
applicant may be added to, or an existing practitioner may remain
on, the Register of Patent Attorneys and Agents.
Changes in Responses and Burden
Hours The total respondent cost burden for this information
collection has decreased by $3,561 (from $21,749 to $18,188) from
the previous OMB approval of this information collection in
December 2017. This change is due to: • Decrease in hourly burden
due to changes in submissions. This increase is the result of
natural fluctuation in the items being submitted as well as certain
changes regarding exam options. Changes in Responses and Burden
Hours For this renewal, the USPTO estimates that the annual
responses will increase by 10,783 (from 19,944 to 30,727) from the
currently approved burden for this information collection. This
change is due to the following: • Increase in submission volumes.
This increase is the result of natural fluctuation in the items
being submitted. • Increase in responses due to recordkeeping
costs. The recordkeeping costs were previously associated with
non-hourly cost burden but are being associated as a response with
hourly time burdens. Changes in Annual (Non-Hour) Costs For this
renewal, the USPTO estimates that the total annual (non-hour) costs
will decrease by $664,622 (from $1,540,328 to $875,706) from the
currently approved costs for this information collection. This
change is due to: • Decrease in fee estimates. The non-hourly cost
decreased due to the decrease in the estimate of fees. This
decrease outweighed the increases in recordkeeping costs and
postage costs. • Decrease in costs due to recordkeeping. The
recordkeeping costs were previously associated with non-hourly cost
burden but are now being associated as a response with hourly time
burdens.
$584,244
No
Yes
Yes
No
No
No
No
Dahlia George 571 272-4224
dahlia.george@uspto.gov
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:
(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;
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.