[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 80 (Tuesday, April 25, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24177-24178]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-10269]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

[Docket No. 0004121104-0104-01]
RIN 0651-XX24


Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records

AGENCY: Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of New Privacy Act System of Records: Commerce/Patent 
and Trademark System 15: Maintenance of Invention Promoter Complaints.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce is creating a new system of records 
listed under Commerce-Patent and Trademark Systems: Maintenance of 
Invention Promoter Complaints. We invite public comment on the system 
announced in this publication.

DATES: Effective Date: The system will become effective without further 
notice on May 25, 2000 unless comments dictate otherwise.
    Comment Date: To be considered, written comments must be submitted 
on or before May 25, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be sent via United States Mail delivery to 
Marshall Honeyman or Raymond Chen, Office of the Solicitor, United 
States Patent and Trademark Office, Box 8, Washington, DC 20231; via 
facsimile at 703-305-9373. All comments received will be available for 
public inspection at the Public Search Facilities, Crystal Plaza 3, 
2021 South Clark Place, Arlington, VA 22202.
    For further information contact: Marshall Honeyman, Office of the 
Solicitor, Box 8, Washington, DC 20231, or by phone at 703-305-9035.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to the implementation of the 
Inventors' Rights Act of 1999, Pub. L. 106-113, section 4001 (to be 
codified at 35 U.S.C. 297), the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office (Office) is required to make complaints received by the Office 
involving invention promoters publicly available, together with any 
response of the invention promoters. A new system of records is being 
created by the Office to maintain these complaints and responses.
    The Department of Commerce finds no probable or potential effect of 
the proposal on the privacy of individuals. To minimize the risk of 
unauthorized access to the system of records, the Office will locate 
all unpublished paper records in lockable file cabinets or in metal 
file cabinets in secured rooms or secured premises with access limited 
to those whose official duties require access. Electronic data will be 
stored in secured premises with access limited to those whose official 
duties require access.

Classification

Administrative Procedure Act

    This notice is not subject to the notice and comment requirements 
of the Administrative Procedure Act. 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(2).

Executive Order 12866

    This notice is exempt from review under Executive Order 12866.

Brenda Dolan,
Departmental Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act Officer.
Commerce/PAT-TM-15

System name:
    System for Maintenance of Invention Promoter Complaints--COMMERCE/
PAT-TM-# TBD.

System location:
    The Office of Independent Inventor Programs, U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office, 2121 South Clark Street, Arlington, Virginia 22202.

Categories of individuals covered by the system:
    Complaining inventors, invention promoters, and interested members 
of the public.

Categories of records in the system:
    Complainant names, addresses, and telephone numbers; invention 
promoter names, addresses, and telephone numbers; complaints regarding 
invention promoters, responses to complaints by invention promoters, 
and correspondence relating to these complaints and responses.

Authority for maintenance of the system:
    5 U.S.C. 301; 35 U.S.C. 1, 6, and 297.

Routine uses of records maintained in the system, including categories 
of users and the purposes of such uses:
    See Prefatory Statement of General Routine uses Nos.1-5, 8-10, 12 
and 13. Customer complaints regarding invention promoters together with 
responses by the invention promoters will be made publicly available.

Policies and practices for storing, retrieving, accessing, retaining, 
and disposing of records in the system:
    Storage: Paper records in file folder or distributed to individuals 
and management; microfilm and electronic storage media.
    Retrievability: Complaints and responses will be assigned numbers. 
Documents may be retrieved by number, name of complainant, or name of 
invention promoter.

[[Page 24178]]

    Safeguards: Buildings employ security systems. Records are 
maintained in areas accessible only to authorized personnel who are 
properly screened, cleared, and trained. Where information is 
retrievable by terminal, all safeguards appropriate to secure the ADP 
telecommunications system (hardware and software) are utilized.

Retention and disposal:
    Records retention and disposal is in accordance with the Office of 
Independent Inventor Program Records Control Schedule.

System manager(s) and address:
    Director, Office of Independent Inventor Programs, U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office, 2011 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202.

Notification procedure:
    Information may be obtained from: Privacy Officer, Office of the 
Solicitor, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Box 8, Washington, DC 
20231. Requester should provide name, address, date of application, and 
record sought, 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 for 
appealing initial determinations by the individual concerned appear in 
15 CFR part 4b.

Record source categories:
    Complaining individuals and responding invention promoters.
[FR Doc. 00-10269 Filed 4-24-00; 8:45 am]
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