Law School Clinic Certification Program Information Collection Renewal

Content

ACTION:

Notice of information collection; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereafter “USPTO” or “Agency”) 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. The USPTO invites comments on the information collection renewal
of 0651-0081, which helps the USPTO assess the impact of its information collection requirements and minimize the reporting
burden to the public. Public comments were previously requested via the
Federal Register
on December 22, 2025, during a 60-day comment period (90 FR 59798). This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public
comments.

DATES:

To ensure consideration, you must submit comments regarding this information collection on or before May 7, 2026.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and recommendations for this information collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication
of this notice on the following website, https://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 information collection or the OMB Control Number, 0651-0081. Do not
submit Confidential Business Information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

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

• Email: InformationCollection@uspto.gov. Include “0651-0081 information request” in the subject line of the message.

• Mail: Justin Isaac, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria,
VA 22313-1450.

• Telephone: Diana Oleksa, Office of Enrollment and Discipline, 571-272-4097.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Law School Clinic Certification Program.

OMB Control Number: 0651-0081.

Abstract: Public Law 113-227 (Dec. 16, 2014) requires the USPTO to establish regulations and procedures for application to, and participation
in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program. The Program allows students enrolled in a participating law school's
clinic to practice patent or trademark law before the USPTO under the direct supervision of an approved faculty clinic supervisor.
Each clinic provides legal services on a pro bono basis for clients who qualify for assistance from the law school's clinic. By drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent and
trademark applications, students gain valuable experience that would otherwise be unavailable to them while in law school.
The program also facilitates the provision of pro bono services to patent and trademark applicants who lack the financial resources necessary for traditional legal representation.
Currently, 74 law schools participate in the program.

This information collection covers the applications from law schools that wish to enter the program, faculty advisors who
seek to become a faculty clinic supervisor, and students who seek to participate in this program. The collection also includes
the required semi-annual reports from participating law school clinics and biennial renewals required by the program. With
this renewal, the USPTO is renumbering the items within this information collection to match their current arrangement.

Forms: (LS=Law School)

• PTO-158LS (Application for Limited Recognition in USPTO Law School Program for Law Students to Practice Before the USPTO)

• PTO-159LS (Semi-Annual Law School Clinic Certification Program Reporting § 11.17(b) Requirements for Participation in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program)
• PTO-160LS (Law School Clinic Certification Program Reporting)
• PTO-161LS (Application by Law School Faculty Member to Become a Faculty Clinic Supervisor)
• PTO-162LS (Law School Clinic Certification Program Renewal Application) Type of Review: Extension and revision of a currently approved information collection.

Affected Public: Private sector; Individuals or Households.

Respondent's Obligation: Required to obtain or retain benefits.

Frequency: On occasion; semiannually; biennially.

Estimated Number of Annual Respondents: 951 respondents.

Estimated Number of Annual Responses: 1,025 responses.

Estimated Time per Response: The USPTO estimates that the responses in this information collection will take the public approximately 30 minutes (0.50
hours) to 30 hours to complete. This includes the time to gather the necessary information, create the document, and submit
the completed item to the USPTO.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Burden Hours: 1,330 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Respondent Non-Hourly Cost Burden: $61. The postage costs have increased since the publication of the 60-day
Federal Register
notice, from $12.10 to $12.25 for the Priority Mail legal flat rate envelope used for mailed submissions. The estimated postage
costs equal $61.

Justin Isaac, Information Collections Officer, Office of the Chief Administrative Officer, United States Patent and Trademark Office. [FR Doc. 2026-06727 Filed 4-6-26; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-16-P

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