United States Patent and Trademark Office OG Notices: 19 September 2006

                            DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                  United States Patent and Trademark Office
                         Docket No.: PTO-C-2006-0039

                           Request for Comments on
                USPTO's Draft Strategic Plan for FY 2007-2012

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Commerce.

ACTION: Request for Comments.

SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office
(USPTO) solicits comments on its draft strategic plan for 2007-2012.
The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA) requires
Federal agencies to establish a strategic plan covering not less than
five years, and to solicit the views and suggestions of those entities
potentially affected by or interested in the plan. 
   The USPTO's current plan, The 21st Century Strategic Plan for 2003-2008,
may be viewed on the USPTO Web site at http://www.uspto.gov as can the
agency's draft plan for 2007-2012.

DATES: Written comments must be received by October 6, 2006. A public forum
on Strategic Plan 2007-2012 will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2006,
from 9:00 a.m. until noon. Those wishing to present oral comments at the
forum should register no later than September 19, 2006.

ADDRESSES: The September 26, 2006 public forum will be
held at USPTO Headquarters, 600 Dulany Street, Madison West, Room
10D31, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450. Those interested in presenting oral
comments or written comments on the draft strategic plan should send
their request or written comments to the USPTO by any of the following
methods: electronically via a special e-mail address:
StrategicPlanning1@uspto.gov; by fax to 571-273-0127,
Attention: USPTO Strategic Plan Coordinator; by hand delivery or
courier to the USPTO Strategic Plan Coordinator, 600 Dulany Street,
Madison East, Room 7A45, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450; by mail sent to:
The USPTO Strategic Plan Coordinator, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA
22313-1450. 
   To ensure timely receipt of your comments, we strongly encourage
responses via e-mail, fax, or hand/courier delivery. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joan Bolton, United
States Patent and Trademark Office, by telephone at 571-272-6290. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: GPRA requires Federal
agencies to establish a strategic plan covering not less than a
five-year period, and to solicit the views and suggestions of those
entities potentially affected by or interested in the plan. This notice
represents one in a series of consultations seeking input from a
variety of sources on the USPTO's draft strategic plan. On March 14,
2006, the USPTO posted a notice on its Web site soliciting public input
and establishing an e-mail box
(StrategicPlanning1@uspto.gov) for the public's use in
submitting suggestions, ideas and comments that the agency should
consider in developing the new plan. USPTO employees also were given
the opportunity to provide input, either via e-mail or anonymously via
USPTO's intranet site. 
   The draft strategic plan for 2007-2012 is available on the USPTO's Web
site at http://www.USPTO.gov. The draft plan includes the USPTO's
mission statement, vision statement and a description of the strategic
goals, objectives and significant actions that the USPTO plans to take
in order to accomplish its mission and achieve its vision. Full details
on how the USPTO plans to implement the strategic plan, including
funding and performance metrics, will be included in the USPTO's fiscal
year 2008 President's Budget. 
   The USPTO would like to receive input from a wide range of
organizations (both national and international), public bodies, and
other stakeholders. We especially encourage the views and suggestions
of individuals and entities holding or dealing with intellectual
property, and USPTO employees. 
   The USPTO anticipates publishing the final Strategic Plan for 2007-2012
in early calendar year 2007, and making it available on our Web site at
that time. 

                                                               JON W. DUDAS
                                            Under Secretary of Commerce for
                                  Intellectual Property and Director of the
                                  United States Patent and Trademark Office