2024-01721. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Patent Examiner Employment Application

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. The USPTO invites comments on this information collection renewal, which helps the USPTO assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on November 15, 2023 during a 60-day comment period (88 FR 78332). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comment.

Agency: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce.

Title: Patent Examiner Employment Application.

OMB Control Number: 0651–0042.

Needs and Uses: In the current employment environment, life science and engineering graduates are in great demand. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is in direct competition with the private industry for the same caliber of candidates with the requisite knowledge and skills to perform patent examination work. This information collection covers online applications to the USPTO for entry level patent examiner positions. More specifically, the collection covers the respondent data gathered from the applications. The USPTO posts the relevant positions online and collects applicant information via the USA Staffing System.

The USA Staffing online application collects supplemental information to a candidate's USAJOBS application. This information assists USPTO Human Resource Specialists and Hiring Managers in determining whether an applicant possesses the basic qualification requirements for a patent examiner position. From the information collected, the USA Staffing system creates an electronic real-time candidate inventory on applicants' expertise and technical knowledge, which allows USPTO to immediately review applications from multiple applicants. The use of such automated online systems during recruitment allows USPTO to remain competitive, meet hiring goals, and fulfill the Agency's Congressional commitment to reduce the pendency rate for the examination of patent applications.

Form Numbers: None.

Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection.

Affected Public: Individuals or households.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or maintain benefits.

Frequency: On occasion.

Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 7,226 respondents.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 7,226 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that it will take the public approximately 30 minutes (0.5 hours) to complete. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, create the document, and submit the completed request to the USPTO.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 3,613 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-Hourly Cost Burden: $0.

This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view Department of Commerce, USPTO information collections currently under review by OMB.

Written comments and recommendations for this information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website, www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review–Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function and entering either the title of the information collection or the OMB Control Number, 0651–0042.

Further information can be obtained by:

• Email: [e-mail]. Include “0651–0042 information request” in the subject line of the message.

• Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450.

Justin Isaac,

Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office.