[Federal Register: November 26, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 227)] [Notices] [Page 66458-66459] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr26no99-50] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Patent and Trademark Office Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Certificate Action Form ACTION: Proposed collection; comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of Commerce (DoC), as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on the continuing and proposed information collection, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, Public Law 104-13 (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)). DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before January 25, 2000. ADDRESSES: Direct all written comments to Linda Engelmeier, Departmental Forms Clearance Officer, Department of Commerce, Room 5027, 14th and Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20230 or via the Internet at LEngelme@doc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information should be directed to the attention of Art Purcell, Patent and Trademark Office, Office of Systems Architecture and Engineering, Crystal Park 2, 2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA 22202, by telephone at (703) 308-6856, or by e-mail at art.purcell@uspto.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION I. Abstract The Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a set of hardware, software, policies, and procedures that the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has chosen to support secure electronic communications between the PTO and its customers. The information collected by the PTO through the Certificate Action Form (PTO Form PTO-2042) is used by the PTO to authorize the creation of a digital certificate. The digital certificate enables the PTO to issue the cryptographic ``keys'' necessary to provide the applicant with a digital identity and to support encrypted communication between the applicant and the PTO. Using PKI enables the PTO to offer the option to applicants to review their patent application information, to send their patent applications, and to communicate with the PTO electronically, while preserving the integrity and confidentiality of these various actions. Both the laws governing patents and the Patent Cooperation Treaties established between the United States and the international community require that patent applications be preserved in confidence. Using PKI ensures that the patent applications are preserved in confidence because it requires that a user authenticate his or her identity through passwords or other means before it allows the user access to the encryption and digital signature services. The PTO will use PKI to support secure communications and electronic commerce with its applicant community, international business partners, the Patent and Trademark Depository Libraries, its own employees, and support contractors. By implementing PKI, the PTO is indicating to its customers that the agency is making a major commitment to preserve the integrity of the electronic transactions. PKI can also alert the different parties involved that an electronic transaction has occurred. [[Page 66459]] The PTO is implementing PKI in a phased approach. The first phase is the pilot project for the Patent Application Information and Retrieval (PAIR) system. PAIR allows applicants secure authenticated access to their patent application information, through the use of public key cryptography mechanisms that provide strong authentication, encryption, and digital signatures. II. Method of collection By mail, facsimile, or hand carry when the applicant files a Public Key Infrastructure Certificate Action Form with the PTO. III. Data OMB Number: 0651-XXXX. Form Number: PTO Form PTO-2042. Type of Review: Existing collection in use without an OMB control number. Affected Public: Individuals or households; businesses or other for-profit; not-for-profit institutions; farms; Federal, state, local or tribal government. Estimated Number of Respondents: 6,000 responses per year. Estimated Time Per Response: It is estimated to take approximately 10 minutes to read the instructions, gather the necessary data, and complete the Public Key Infrastructure Certificate Action Form. Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,020 hours per year. Estimated Total Annual Cost Burden: $525,000 (this cost is associated with the one-time download of additional software that is needed as part of the encryption process). Using the professional hourly rate of $175.00 for associate attorneys in private firms, the PTO estimates $178,500 for salary costs associated with respondents. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimated Estimated Title of form PTO form No. Estimated time annual burden annual for response hours responses ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- United States Patent and Trademark Office PTO Form PTO- 0.17 1,020 6,000 Certificate Action Form........................ 2042 Totals...................................... .............. .............. 1,020 6,000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IV. Request for Comments 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 will have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden (including hours and cost) of the proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, e.g., the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized or included in the request for OMB approval of this information collection; they will also become a matter of public record. Dated: November 22, 1999. Madeleine Clayton, Management Analyst, Office of the Chief Information Officer. [FR Doc. 99-30811 Filed 11-24-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P