### 36786 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 125 / Monday, June 30, 2014 / Notices

accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.

Dated: June 25, 2014. Susan K. Fawcett, Records Officer, USPTO, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 2014–15217 Filed 6–27–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3510–16–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE**

**United States Patent and Trademark Office** 

**[Docket No.: PTO–P–2014–0036]**

**Request for Comments and Extension of Comment Period on Examination**  **Instruction and Guidance Pertaining to Patent-Eligible Subject Matter** 

**AGENCY :**  United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

**ACTION :**  Request for comments.

**SUMMARY :**  The United States Supreme Court (Supreme Court) recently issued a decision in Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International (Alice Corp. ), which dealt with claims to a computerized scheme for mitigating settlement risk. The Supreme Court held in a unanimous decision that theclaimed subject matter was not patenteligible because it was drawn to the abstract idea of intermediated settlement implemented on a generic computer. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued preliminary instructions on Alice Corp. to the patent examining corps and these preliminary instructions have been posted on the USPTO’s Internet Web site. The USPTO is inviting public comment on the Alice Corp. preliminary instructions. The USPTO is also extending the period for public comment on the Examination Guidance For Determining Subject Matter Eligibility Of Claims Reciting Or Involving Laws of Nature, Natural Phenomena, and Natural Products (Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance). **DATES :**  Written comments on the Alice Corp. preliminary instructions and/or on the Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance must be received on or before July 31, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  Comments on the Alice Corp. preliminary instructions may be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to: alice

_2014@ uspto.gov.

Comments on the Laws of Nature/ Natural Products Guidance may be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to: myriad-mayo

_ 2014@uspto.gov.

Comments that apply to both the Alice Corp. preliminary instructions and the Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance may be sent by electronic mail message over the Internet addressed to either: myriad-mayo

_2014@uspto.gov

, or alice

_2014@uspto.gov.

Electronic comments submitted in plain text are preferred, but also may be submitted in ADOBE ® portable document format or MICROSOFT WORD ® format. Comments not submitted electronically should be submitted on paper in a format that facilitates convenient digital scanning into ADOBE ® portable document format. The comments will be available for viewing via the Office’s Internet Web site ( http://www.uspto.gov ). Because comments will be made available for public inspection, information that the submitter does not desire to make public, such as an address or phone number, should not be included in the
comments.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Raul Tamayo, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, by telephone at 571–272–7728, or Caroline D. Dennison, Senior Legal Advisor, Office of Patent Legal Administration, by telephone at 571–272–7729.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  The Supreme Court recently issued a decision in Alice Corp. (Alice Corporation Pty. Ltd. v. CLS Bank International, 573 U.S.

ll (2014)), which dealt with claims to a computerized scheme for mitigating settlement risk. The Supreme Court held in a unanimous decision that the claimed subject matter in question was not patent-eligible because it was drawn to the abstract idea of intermediated settlement implemented on a generic computer. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued preliminary instructions to the patent examining corps and these preliminary instructions are available on the USPTO’s Internet Web site (patent examining corps guidance and instructions can be found at: http://www.uspto.gov/patents/law/ exam/examguide.jsp ). The USPTO is inviting public comment on the Alice Corp. preliminary instructions before providing more comprehensive guidance to the patent examining corps. Written comments on the Alice Corp. preliminary instructions must be received on or before July 31, 2014.

The USPTO is also extending the period for public comment on the Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance. The USPTO published the Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance on its Internet Web site (as discussed previously, examining corps guidance and instructions can be found at: http:// www.uspto.gov/patents/law/exam/ examguide.jsp ). The USPTO also published an announcement on its Internet Web site that it was hosting a public forum (conducted on May 9, 2014) and providing until June 30, 2014, for public comment on the Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance. See Notice of Forum on the Guidance For Determining Subject Matter Eligibility of Claims Reciting or Involving Laws of nature, Natural Phenomena, and Natural Products, 79 FR 21736 (Apr. 17, 2014).

The USPTO has received several requests from our stakeholders for additional time to submit comments on the Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance. In addition, the Supreme Court in Alice Corp. applied its framework from Mayo Collaborative Services v. Prometheus Laboratories, Inc., 566 U.S.

ll (2012), in determining whether the claims in Alice Corp. were directed to a patent-ineligible abstract idea. For these reasons, the USPTO is extending the period for public comment on the Laws of Nature/Natural Products Guidance until July 31, 2014.

Dated: June 25, 2014. Margaret A. Focarino, Commissioner for Patents.
[FR Doc. 2014–15352 Filed 6–27–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 3510–16–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**[Docket ID DoD–2012–OS–0137]**

**Proposed Collection; Comment Request** 

**AGENCY :**  United States Transportation Command, DoD.

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  In compliance with Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the United States


### 36787 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 125 / Monday, June 30, 2014 / Notices

Transportation Command announces a proposed public information collection and seeks public comment on the provisions thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of the burden of the proposed information collection; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

**DATES :**  Consideration will be given to all comments received by August 29, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments, identified by docket number and title, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Mail: Federal Docket Management System Office, 4800 Mark Center Drive, East Tower, Suite 02G09, Alexandria, VA 22350–3100.

Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name, docket number and title for this Federal Register document. The general policy for comments and other submissions from members of the public is to make these submissions available for public viewing on the Internet at http:// www.regulations.gov as they are received without change, including any personal identifiers or contact information.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  To request more information on this proposed information collection or to obtain a copy of the proposal and associated collection instruments, please write to the United States Transportation Command, ATTN: Diana Roach, 508 Scott Drive, Scott Air Force Base, IL 62225 or call (608) 220–1724.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title; Associated Form; and OMB Number: Industry Executive Office Survey of United States Transportation Command; OMB Control Number: 0704–TBD.

Needs and Uses: The information collection requirement is necessary to assist USTRANSCOM pursue process improvement and set priorities to enable us to gain efficiencies and improve effectiveness.

Affected Public: Chief Executive Officers of Companies.

Annual Burden Hours: 27 hours. Number of Respondents: 160. Responses per Respondent: 1. Average Burden per Response: 10 minutes.

Frequency: On occasion. The annual survey measures the perceptions of executives from companies that support the USTRANSCOM missions such as those companies in the Civil Reserve Air Fleet and Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement. The information is used to improve our processes, structures, and culture to be more effective in providing global mobility solutions to support customer requirements in peace and war, developing and maintaining professional relationships, and keeping overhead and operating costs down.

Dated: June 24, 2014. Aaron Siegel, Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2014–15169 Filed 6–27–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 5001–06–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE**

**Office of the Secretary**

**Re-Establishment of Department of Defense Federal Advisory Committees** 

**AGENCY :**  DoD.

**ACTION :**  Re-establishment of Federal Advisory Committee.

**SUMMARY :**  The Department of Defense is publishing this notice to announce that it is re-establishing the charter for the Defense Acquisition University Board of Visitors (‘‘the Board’’).

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Jim Freeman, Advisory Committee Management Officer for the Department of Defense, 703–692–5952.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Thiscommittee’s charter is being reestablished under the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5 U.S.C. Appendix, as amended), the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b) (‘‘the Sunshine Act’’), and 41 CFR 102–3.50(d).

The Board is a discretionary Federal advisory committee that shall provide the Secretary of Defense, through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics (USD(AT&L)) and the President of the Defense Acquisition University, independent advice and recommendations on the organizational management, curricula, methods of instruction, facilities, and other matters of interest to the Defense Acquisition University.

The Board shall report to the Secretary of Defense, through the USD(AT&L) and the President of the Defense Acquisition University. The USD(AT&L) or a designated representative may act upon the Board’s advice and recommendations.

The DoD, through the USD(AT&L) and the President of the Defense Acquisition University, shall provide support, as they deem necessary, for the performance of the Board’s functions, and shall ensure compliance with the requirements of the FACA, the Government in the Sunshine Act of 1976 (5 U.S.C. 552b) (‘‘the Sunshine Act’’), governing Federal statutes and regulations, and established DoD policies and procedures.

The Board shall be composed of not more than 14 members, who are former senior Defense officials, or are eminent authorities in academia, business, and defense industry. Board members shall be appointed by the Secretary of Defense or the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and their appointments will be renewed on an annual basis. Board members, who are not full-time or permanent part-time Federal officers or employees, shall be appointed as experts and consultants under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 3109, and serve as special government employee (SGE)members. Board members who are fulltime or permanent part-time Federal employees shall serve as regular government employee (RGE) members.

With the exception of travel and per diem for official Board related travel, Board members shall serve without compensation.

The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the USD(AT&L), shall select the Board’s Chairperson from the approved Board membership, and this individual shall serve at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense, through the USD(AT&L).

In addition, the USD(AT&L) may invite other distinguished Government officers to serve as non-voting observers of the Board, and appoint, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109, non-voting consultants, with special expertise, to assist the Board on an ad hoc basis.

The Secretary of Defense may approve the appointment of Board members for one to four year terms of service; however, no member, unless authorized by the Secretary of Defense, may serve more than two consecutive terms of service. This same term of service limitation also applies to any DoD authorized subcommittees.

Each Board member is appointed to provide advice on behalf of the government on the basis of his or her best judgment without representing any particular point of view and in a manner that is free from conflict of interest.