From the Privacy Act Online via GPO Access \[wais.access.gpo.gov\]

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

COMMERCE/PAT-TM-6

System name: Parties Involved in Patent Interference
Proceedings\--COMMERCE/PAT-TM-6.

System location: Board of Patent Interferences, U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office, 2021 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia
22202.

Categories of individuals covered by the system: Applicants for patent
and patentees who become involved in a conflict involving the question
of priority of invention.

Categories of records in the system: All records relating to the
declaration, conduct, and termination of interference proceedings,
including, but not limited to: Preliminary statements, motions,
testimony and settlement agreements. The data contained in the records
may include information relating to the applicant\'s or patentee\'s
name, age, citizenship, residence, educational and work background,
physical and mental health, activities relating to conception and
reduction to practice of the contested subject matter, and other matters
which may arise during the conduct of the interference proceeding or in
connection with any agreements made by the parties relative to the
interference proceeding.

Authority for maintenance of the system: 35 U.S.C. 1, 6, 23, 24, and
135.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories
of users and the purposes of such uses: Records relating to
interferences which involve a patent are open to public inspection after
an award of priority by the Board of Patent Interferences as to all
parties, or, if none, after termination of the interference. Records
relating to interferences which do not involve a patent are open to
public inspection after the interference has terminated and one of the
applications involved has issued a patent. Otherwise, information
concerning these records is provided outside the Office only upon
authorization of the applicants or owners of the applications or patents
involved, or when necessary to carry out the provisions of any act of
Congress or in such special circumstances as may be determined by the
Commissioner. Copies of settlement agreements filed under 35 U.S.C.
135(c) are kept separate from other interference records if the party
filing them so requests, and are made available, as provided in the
statute, only to Government agencies on written request or to any person
on a showing of good cause. Also see routine use paragraphs of the
Prefatory Statement.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining,
and disposing of records in the system:

Storage: Paper records in file folders.

Retrievability: Filed by Interference Number, cross-indexed to the names
of the parties.

Safeguards: Records are located in lockable metal file cabinets or in
metal file cabinets in secured rooms or secured premises with access
limited to those whose official duties require access.

Retention and disposal: Records retention and disposal is in accordance
with the unit\'s Records Control Schedule.

System manager(s) and address: Chairman, Board of Patent Interferences,
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC 20231.

Notification procedure: Information may be obtained from: Assistant
Commissioner for Administration, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office,
Washington, DC 20231. Requesters should provide name and address, and
Interference Number, if known, pursuant to the inquiry provisions of the
Department\'s rules which appear in 15 CFR part 4b.

Record access procedures: Requests from individuals should be addressed
to: Same address as stated in the notification section above.

Contesting record procedures: The Department\'s rules for access, for
contesting contents and appealing initial determinations by the
individual concerned appear in 15 CFR part 4b. Use above address.

Record source categories: Applicants for patent and patentees, the
patent attorneys or agents authorized by such persons to represent them,
those authorized by the applicant to furnish information, and witnesses
and other parties involved in the taking of testimony.

Systems exempted from certain provisions of the act: Pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 552a(k)(1), Patent Interference Proceedings records which relate
to applications subject to a secrecy order pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 181 or
are otherwise subject to security classification pursuant to E.O. 12065
or the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, are exempted from the notification,
access, and contest requirements of the agency procedures (under 5
U.S.C. 552a(c)(3), (d), (e)(1), (e)(4)(G), (H), and (I), and (f)). This
exemption is made to prevent disclosure of information which might be
detrimental to national security and in accordance to agency rules,
which appear in 15 CFR part 4b.