By
Sarah Fendrick —

Last month, the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office published a notice in the Federal Register (75 Fed. Reg. 30773) indicating that it is seeking comments on the collection of information through the use of
applicant surveys.  The USPTO
collects information from the applicant community through surveys to forecast
the number of application filings the Office can expect to receive over the next
three years.  The applicant
community surveys collect information on newly emerging technologies, evolving
business patent strategies, patent valuations and costs, and other factors that
may impact an applicant's decision in filing an application with the USPTO.  The survey is distributed to four
groups of respondents:  large domestic corporations, small and medium-size
businesses, universities and non-profit research organizations, and independent
inventors.  The USPTO estimates that
the costs associated with respondents completing the survey will be
about $17,080.

The USPTO is soliciting
public comments on whether the proposed collection of information
through applicant surveys is necessary for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency; the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information; ways to enhance the quality, utility,
and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize the burden
of the collection of information on respondents.

Comments
must be submitted by August 2, 2010 and can be sent to InformationCollection@uspto.gov
or mailed to Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, Office of the Chief Information
Officer, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313–1450.