Changeflow GovPing Federal Regulation NIST Invention Disclosure Information Collectio...

Routine Notice Added Final

NIST Invention Disclosure Information Collection Activities Submission to OMB

FR: National Institute of Standards and Technology

Published January 23rd, 2026

Detected March 14th, 2026

Summary

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has submitted an information collection request regarding NIST Invention Disclosure and Inventor Information to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. This notice announces the submission and requests public comment on the proposed collection.

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What changed

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has submitted a request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval of its information collection activities related to invention disclosures and inventor information. This submission is a standard procedural step under the Paperwork Reduction Act, seeking OMB's clearance for NIST's data collection forms and processes.

Regulated entities, particularly those involved in research and development or technology transfer, should be aware that NIST is seeking to continue collecting this information. While this notice does not impose new obligations, it is an opportunity to provide public comment on the necessity, utility, and burden of the proposed information collection. The comment period is open for a specified duration, after which OMB will make a determination on the approval of the collection.

What to do next

Review NIST's submission for invention disclosure and inventor information collection.
Submit public comments to OMB regarding the proposed information collection if desired.

Source document (simplified)

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Notice

Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NIST Invention Disclosure and Inventor Information Collection

A Notice by the National Institute of Standards and Technology on 01/23/2026

Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology Document Citation 91 FR 2914 Document Number 2026-01256 Document Type Notice Pages 2914-2915
(2 pages) Publication Date 01/23/2026 Published Content - Document Details
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Document Details Published Content - Document Details Agencies Department of Commerce National Institute of Standards and Technology Document Citation 91 FR 2914 Document Number 2026-01256 Document Type Notice Pages 2914-2915
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Department of Commerce

National Institute of Standards and Technology

The Department of Commerce will submit the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, on or after the date of publication of this notice. We invite the general public and other Federal agencies to comment on proposed, and continuing information collections, which helps us assess the impact of our information collection requirements and minimize the public's reporting burden. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on November 21, 2025 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

Agency: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Commerce.

Title: NIST Invention Disclosure and Inventor Information Collection.

OMB Control Number 0693-0085.

Form Number(s): NIST DN-45.

Type of Request: Regular submission, revision of a current information collection.

Number of Respondents: Invention Disclosure Form—10 per year. Inventor Information Form—100 per year.

Average Hours per Response: Invention Disclosure Form: 3 hours. Inventor Information Form: 30 minutes. ( printed page 2915)

Burden Hours: Invention Disclosure Form: 30 hours. Inventor Information Form: 50 hours.

Needs and Uses: The NIST DN-45 Invention Disclosure Form is used to collect information pertaining to inventions created by Federal employees or by non-Federally employed individuals who have created an invention using NIST laboratory facilities as NIST Associates. The collection of this information is required to protect the United States rights to inventions created using Federal resources. The information collected on the form allows the Government to determine: (1) if an invention has been created; (2) the status of any statutory bar that pertains to the potential invention or that may pertain to the invention in the future. The information collected may allow the Government to begin a patent application process.

The Inventor Information Sheet is used to collect from individuals who have been named

as potential inventors on a NIST Invention Disclosure Form. The collection of this information is used for multiple purposes:

(1) Some of the information may be required to file a patent application, if NIST seeks to protect a federally owned invention, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 207.

(2) The form, in part, is a statement made by the respondent declaring whether the respondent considers herself/himself to be an inventor.

(3) Some of the information is needed for NIST to determine potential assignees with which NIST would potentially negotiate consolidation of rights and other patent related matters.

(4) Some of the information helps NIST determine under which statutory authority NIST may consolidate rights in an invention with other potential assignees.

(5) Country citizenship information is required to determine whether a Scientific and Technology agreement or treaty with the respondent's country may impact the U.S. Government's rights to the invention.

The information is collected by the Technology Partnerships Office and shared with the Office of Chief Counsel at NIST. The information may also be shared with non-Governmental entities that may have ownership rights to the potential invention. The Government collects this information to execute the policy and objective of the Congress expressed at 35 U.S.C. 200. 35 U.S.C. 207 authorizes Federal agencies to apply for, obtain, and maintain patents or other forms of protection . . . on inventions in which the Federal Government owns a right, title, or interest. 35 U.S.C. 207 also authorizes each Federal agency to undertake all other suitable and necessary steps to protect and administer rights to federally owned inventions on behalf of the Federal government.

The information collected through the NIST DN-45 is necessary for NIST to execute the authority granted at 35 U.S.C. 207.

Affected Public: Individuals.

Frequency: On occasion.

Respondent's Obligation: Voluntary.

This information collection request may be viewed at www.reginfo.gov. Follow the instructions to view the Department of Commerce collections currently under review by OMB.

Written comments and recommendations for the proposed information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of this notice on the following website www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information collection by selecting “Currently under 30-day Review—Open for Public Comments” or by using the search function and entering either the title of the collection or the OMB Control Number 0693-0085.

Sheleen Dumas,

Departmental PRA Compliance Officer, Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, Commerce Department.

[FR Doc. 2026-01256 Filed 1-22-26; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 3510-13-P

Published Document: 2026-01256 (91 FR 2914)