Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 121 / Thursday, June 22, 2000 / Notices 38811

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Trevor Spradlin, 301/713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April

13, 2000, notice was published in the

Federal Register (65 FR 19878) that a

request for a scientific research permit

had been submitted by the above-named

individual to harass up to 120 Atlantic

bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops

truncatus) annually in Florida waters

during the conduct of capture,

examination, sampling, marking, and

release activities, over a 5-year period.

The requested permit has been issued

under the authority of the Marine

Mammal Protection Act of 1972, as

amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) and

the Regulations Governing the Taking

and Importing of Marine Mammals (50

CFR part 216), the Endangered Species

Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531

et seq.).

Dated: June 7, 2000.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–15855 Filed 6–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration

[I.D. 060800E]

Marine Mammals; File No. 675–1563–01

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),

Commerce.

ACTION: Receipt of application for

amendment.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that Dr.

Graham A.J. Worthy, [Principal

Investigator], Department of Marine

Biology, Texas A&M University, 5001

Avenue U, Suite 105, Galveston, Texas

77551, has requested an amendment to

scientific research Permit No. 675–1563.

DATES: Written or telefaxed comments

must be received on or before July 24,

2000.

ADDRESSES: The amendment request

and related documents are available for

review upon written request or by

appointment in the following office(s):

Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, NMFS,

1315 East-West Highway, Room 13705,

Silver Spring, MD 20910 (301/713–

2289); and

Regional Administrator, Alaska

Region, NMFS, P.O. Box 21668, Juneau,

AK 99802–1668 (907/586–7221).

Written comments or requests for a

public hearing on this request should be

submitted to the Chief, Permits and

Documentation Division, F/PR1, Office

of Protected Resources, NMFS, 1315

East-West Highway, Room 13130, Silver

Spring, MD 20910. Those individuals

requesting a hearing should set forth the

specific reasons why a hearing on this

particular amendment request would be

appropriate.

Comments may also be submitted by

facsimile at (301) 713–0376, provided

the facsimile is confirmed by hard copy

submitted by mail and postmarked no

later than the closing date of the

comment period. Please note that

comments will not be accepted by email or other electronic media.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ruth Johnson or Simona Roberts, 301/

713–2289.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

subject amendment to Permit No. 675–

1563, issued on June 6, 2000 (65 FR

36889) is requested under the authority

of the Marine Mammal Protection Act of

1972, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et

seq.), the Regulations Governing the

Taking and Importing of Marine

Mammals (50 CFR part 216), and the

Fur Seal Act of 1966, as amended (16

U.S.C. 1151 et seq.).

Permit No. 675–1563 authorizes the

permit holder to capture, mark, sedate,

blood/biopsy sample 10 females and 20

pups Northern fur seals (Callorhinus

ursinus), incidentally harass 60 animals

of all ages, and accidentally kill up to

2 seals on the Pribilof Islands for a oneyear period.

The permit holder requests

amendment to take by capture and

sample, bleach mark an additional five

female seals, increase accidental

mortality to five, attach VHF radio tags

to all females over a three-year period,

and to incidentally harass, annually, up

to 13,000 animals of all ages.

In compliance with the National

Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42

U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), an initial

determination has been made that the

activity proposed is categorically

excluded from the requirement to

prepare an environmental assessment or

environmental impact statement.

Concurrent with the publication of

this notice in the Federal Register,

NMFS is forwarding copies of this

application to the Marine Mammal

Commission and its Committee of

Scientific Advisors.

Dated: June 16, 2000.

Ann D. Terbush,

Chief, Permits and Documentation Division,

Office of Protected Resources, National

Marine Fisheries Service.

[FR Doc. 00–15856 Filed 6–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–22–F

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark

Office

RIN 0651–AB20

Notice of Roundtable on ComputerImplemented Business Method Patent

Issues

AGENCY: United States Patent and

Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of roundtable on

computer-implemented business

method patent issues.

SUMMARY: As part of the recently

announced business method patent

initiative, the United States Patent and

Trademark Office (USPTO) is holding a

roundtable, the purpose of which is to

discuss the history behind computerimplemented business method patents

and to identify ways to improve the

USPTO’s current examination approach

to computer-implemented business

method patent applications. Members of

the public are invited to attend the

roundtable, or to participate as a

panelist in the roundtable discussion,

on the topics outlined in the

supplementary information section of

this notice, or other related topics.

Individuals who are not selected, or do

not wish to apply for selection as

panelists may request to attend the

discussion as an audience member. The

roundtable is an opportunity for an

informal discussion. Panelists will be

asked to provide their individual input;

group consensus advice will not be

sought.

DATES: The roundtable will be held on

Thursday, July 27, 2000, from 9 a.m. to

4:30 p.m. Self-nominations to

participate as a panelist and requests for

attendance at the roundtable must be

received by no later than July 7, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Location of the Roundtable

The roundtable will be held at the

Crystal City Sheraton Hotel, 1800

Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA

22202.

Mailing Address for Self-Nominations

and Requests for Attendance

Self-nominations to participate as a

panelist and requests for attendance at

38812 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 121 / Thursday, June 22, 2000 / Notices

the roundtable should be addressed to

Director of the United States Patent and

Trademark Office, Box 4, United States

Patent and Trademark Office,

Washington, DC 20231, marked to the

attention of Elizabeth Shaw. Selfnominations may also be submitted by

facsimile to (703) 305–7575, or by

electronic mail through the Internet to

elizabeth.shaw2@uspto.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jennifer Lucas by telephone at (703)

305–9300, by facsimile at (703) 305–

8885, by electronic mail at

jennifer.lucas@uspto.gov, or by mail

addressed to Director of the United

States Patent and Trademark Office, Box

Comments-Patents, Commissioner for

Patents, Washington, DC 20231.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The number of patent applications

related to computer-implemented

business methods in Class 705 grew

from 1,300 to 2,600 between FY 1998

and FY 1999. Much of this growth may

be attributed to the decision in State

Street Bank & Trust Co. v. Signature

Financial Group Inc., 149 F.3d 1368, 47

USPQ2d 1596 (Fed. Cir. 1998), that held

that computer-implemented business

methods are eligible for patent

protection under 35 U.S.C. 101.

Electronic commerce is an extremely

significant component of today’s

technology-driven economy. While less

than one percent of the 290,000

applications filed with the USPTO last

year related to computer-implemented

business methods in Class 705,

computer-implemented business

method patents play an important role

in this growing industry. In an effort to

enhance the quality of the examination

of business method patent applications,

the USPTO is interested in working

together with the software, Internet, and

electronic commerce industry to

identify ways to improve current

business operations and solve business

methods-related issues, including access

to software-related prior art.

On March 29, 2000, the USPTO

announced the business method patent

initiative, which includes industry

outreach and quality programs. The

industry outreach programs are

intended to encompass the

establishment of a customer partnership

with industry, the convening of a

roundtable forum, and an effort to

obtain industry feedback on prior art

issues.

The quality programs encompass

steps to enhance the technical training

of examiners, revise the examination

guidelines and examples, and expand

current prior art search activities. This

includes a review of mandatory search

areas, the establishment of a new

second-level review of all allowed

applications in Class 705, and an

expansion of the sampling size for

quality review along with the

introduction of a new in-process review

of Office actions to focus on field of

search and patentability issues

involving novelty and nonobviousness.

As part of this initiative, the USPTO

invites members of the public to attend

the roundtable or to participate as a

panelist in the roundtable discussion.

Panelists will be asked to provide their

individual input. Attendees will be

invited to ask questions and provide

comments. The intent of this roundtable

is to offer an informal forum for a free

and open discussion of issues relating to

the topics outlined in the supplemental

section of this notice. Group consensus

advice will be avoided in the

roundtable.

Participation as a Panelist in the

Roundtable Discussion

The roundtable will be an open forum

providing a fair and open opportunity

for panelists to discuss major issues

related to patent protection for

computer-implemented business

methods and for the public at large to

observe and listen to the discussion, ask

questions and provide comments.

Panelists will be discussing the topics

outlined in the supplemental section of

this notice, or other related topics.

During the roundtable discussion, the

issues addressed by the panelists will be

facilitated by a moderator. The USPTO

will select panelists from selfnominations based on qualifications

that will offer a broad range of expertise

and perspectives on the topics listed in

the supplemental section. In addition to

selection of panelists from the selfnominations, the USPTO may also

solicit participation from various

members of the patent community and

academia. The USPTO would like the

panel to include a cross-section of

various stakeholders, such as start-up

and established e-commerce companies,

corporations, attorneys, database

managers and creators, academia

representatives, and trade associations

representatives.

Those interested in participating in

the roundtable discussion as a panelist

should send their self-nominations to

the attention of Elizabeth Shaw,

addressed to Director of the United

States Patent and Trademark Office, Box

4, United States Patent and Trademark

Office, Washington, DC 20231. Selfnominations must include the

participant’s name, affiliation, title,

mailing address, telephone number, and

a short resume reflecting the

participant’s knowledge of and/or

interest in the USPTO business method

patent initiative. Facsimile number and

Internet mail address, if available,

should also be provided. Individuals

will be notified of accepted selfnominations by the USPTO

approximately one week prior to the

date of the roundtable. Non-accepted

nominees will also be notified by the

USPTO. No one will be permitted to

participate as a panelist in the

roundtable discussion without prior

approval.

Individuals who would like to attend

the roundtable discussion as an

audience member in the event that they

are not selected to participate as a

panelist, must include a statement with

their self-nomination explicitly

requesting attendance. If such a

statement is included with the selfnomination, a separate request for

attendance is not required. As discussed

below, these requests will be honored

on a first-come, first-served basis.

Audience Attendance at the Roundtable

Discussion

Attendees will be provided with

audience-style seating to watch and

listen to the panel discussions.

Attendees will be given the opportunity

to submit questions and comments

during the question and answer periods.

Those interested in attending should

send their requests for attendance, to the

attention of Elizabeth Shaw, addressed

to Director of the United States Patent

and Trademark Office, Box 4,

Washington, DC 20231; facsimile (703)

305–7575; or e-mail

elizabethshaw2@uspto.gov. Requests for

attendance must include the attendee’s

name, affiliation, title, mailing address,

and telephone number. Facsimile

number and Internet mail address, if

available, should also be provided.

Roundtable attendees will be accepted

as requests are received. Requests for

attendance will be honored on a firstcome, first-served basis according to the

time and date of receipt of each request.

Because of space considerations,

approximately 150 members of the

public will be accepted as attendees. In

order to ensure a broad cross-section of

attendees, the USPTO reserves the right

to limit the number of attendees from

any single organization or law firm.

Therefore, organizations and law firms

must designate their official

representatives. Individuals will be

notified of accepted requests for

attendance by the USPTO

approximately one week prior to the

date of the roundtable. Non-accepted

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 121 / Thursday, June 22, 2000 / Notices 38813

requesters will also be notified by the

USPTO. No one will be permitted to

attend without prior approval.

Topics for the Roundtable Discussion

The roundtable will begin with an

overview and history of computerimplemented business method patents

and the State Street Bank decision, as

well as what is happening today on this

issue. This portion will be followed by

roundtable discussions on the

examination and economic issues

surrounding business method patents.

The topics to be discussed by the

roundtable participants will include:

A. How computer-implemented

business method applications are

examined.

—Eligibility for patenting

—Novelty and nonobviousness

requirements, including automation

of known processes

B. The impact of patent protection for

computer-implemented business

methods on the innovation, evolution

and development of electronic

commerce.

—Are computer-implemented business

method patents encouraging or

curbing growth in innovation?

—Are there empirical studies or

evidence that support either

conclusion?

C. Creation of a business methods

prior art database for searching

computer-implemented business

method patent applications.

—Unique characteristics of business

methods prior art

—Types of prior art in the new database

and the accessibility of the prior art

—Challenges in creating the business

methods prior art database

D. Discussion of the USPTO’s

Business Method Patent Initiative

announced on March 29, 2000.

—Does the initiative adequately address

concerns raised about the

examination of computerimplemented business method patent

applications?

—Are there other issues related to

computer-implemented business

methods on which the USPTO should

be focusing?

Classification Section

It has been determined that this notice

is significant for purposes of Executive

Order 12866. This notice involves

information collection requirements

related to the filing and processing of a

patent application and which are

subject to review by the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB) under

the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995

(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). These

information collections have been

reviewed and previously approved by

the Office of Management and Budget

under the following control numbers:

0651–0031 and 0651–0032. The United

States Patent and Trademark Office is

not resubmitting information collection

packages to OMB for its review and

approval because the changes under

consideration do not affect the

information collection requirements

associated with the information

collections under these OMB control

numbers. Notwithstanding any other

provision of law, no person is required

to respond nor shall a person be subject

to a penalty for failure to comply with

a collection of information subject to the

requirements of the Paperwork

Reduction Act unless that collection of

information displays a currently valid

OMB Control Number.

Dated: June 16, 2000.

Q. Todd Dickinson,

Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual

Property and Director of the United States

Patent and Trademark Office.

[FR Doc. 00–15813 Filed 6–21–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510–16–P

COMMITTEE FOR THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE

AGREEMENTS

Adjustment of Import Limits for Certain

Cotton, Wool and Man-Made Fiber

Textiles and Textile Products

Produced or Manufactured in

Indonesia

June 16, 2000.

AGENCY: Committee for the

Implementation of Textile Agreements

(CITA).

ACTION: Issuing a directive to the

Commissioner of Customs adjusting

limits.

EFFECTIVE DATE: June 22, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ross

Arnold, International Trade Specialist,

Office of Textiles and Apparel, U.S.

Department of Commerce, (202) 482–

4212. For information on the quota

status of these limits, refer to the Quota

Status Reports posted on the bulletin

boards of each Customs port, call (202)

927–5850, or refer to the U.S. Customs

website at http://www.customs.gov. For

information on embargoes and quota reopenings, call (202) 482–3715.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority: Section 204 of the Agricultural

Act of 1956, as amended (7 U.S.C. 1854);

Executive Order 11651 of March 3, 1972, as

amended.

The current limits for certain

categories are being adjusted for swing,

special shift and the adjustment for

folklore products.

A description of the textile and

apparel categories in terms of HTS

numbers is available in the

CORRELATION: Textile and Apparel

Categories with the Harmonized Tariff

Schedule of the United States (see

Federal Register notice 64 FR 71982,

published on December 22, 1999). Also

see 64 FR 54870, published on October

8, 1999.

D. Michael Hutchinson,

Acting Chairman, Committee for the

Implementation of Textile Agreements.

Committee for the Implementation of Textile

Agreements

June 16, 2000.

Commissioner of Customs,

Department of the Treasury, Washington, DC

20229.

Dear Commissioner: This directive

amends, but does not cancel, the directive

issued to you on October 4, 1999, by the

Chairman, Committee for the Implementation

of Textile Agreements. That directive

concerns imports of certain cotton, wool,

man–made fiber, silk blend and other

vegetable fiber textiles and textile products,

produced or manufactured in Indonesia and

exported during the twelve-month period

which began on January 1, 2000 and extends

through December 31, 2000.

Effective on June 22, 2000, you are directed

to adjust the limits for the categories listed

below, as provided for under the Uruguay

Round Agreement on Textiles and Clothing:

Category Adjusted twelve-month

limit 1

Levels in Group I

219 ........................... 10,026,801 square

meters.

300/301 .................... 4,788,617 kilograms.

313–O 2 .................... 12,833,569 square

meters.

314–O 3 .................... 65,362,978 square

meters.

315–O 4 .................... 37,140,992 square

meters.

317–O 5/326–O 6/617 25,660,549 square

meters of which not

more than 4,530,430

square meters shall

be in Category 326–

O.

334/335 .................... 270,912 dozen.

336/636 .................... 807,170 dozen.

338/339 .................... 1,622,948 dozen.

340/640 .................... 1,741,313 dozen.

341 ........................... 1,207,487 dozen.

342/642 .................... 458,342 dozen.

345 ........................... 516,624 dozen.

347/348 .................... 2,198,572 dozen.

350/650 .................... 151,156 dozen.

351/651 .................... 680,360 dozen.

447 ........................... 18,434 dozen.

613/614/615 ............. 25,048,494 square

meters.