Complaints Regarding Invention Promoters

OMB Control No: 0651-0044	ICR Reference No: 202507-0651-004
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 202110-0651-005
Agency/Subagency: DOC/PTO	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Complaints Regarding Invention Promoters
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 09/30/2025
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 08/21/2025
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	09/30/2028	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2025
Responses	22	0	22
Time Burden (Hours)	8	0	8
Cost Burden (Dollars)	9	0	51

---

Abstract: Pursuant to the Inventors’ Rights Act of 1999, 35 U.S.C. 297, and implementing regulations at 37 CFR, Part 4, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is required to provide a form for the publication of complaints concerning invention promoters. Upon receipt of a complaint, the USPTO will forward it to the invention promoter for a response. The USPTO does not investigate these complaints or participate in any legal proceedings against invention promoters or invention promotion companies. Under the Inventors’ Rights Act, the USPTO is responsible only for publishing complaints and responses on the USPTO website, making them available to the public. A complaint submitted to the USPTO must be clearly marked, or otherwise identified, as a complaint. The complaint must include: (1) the name and address of the complainant; (2) the name and address of the invention promoter; (3) the name of the customer; (4) the invention promotion services offered or performed by the invention promoter; (5) the name of the mass media in which the invention promoter advertised such services; (6) an example of the relationship between the customer and the invention promoter; and (7) a signature of the complainant. Identifying information is necessary so that the USPTO can both forward the complaint to the invention promoters or invention promotion companies as well as notify the complainant that the complaint has been forwarded. Complainants should understand that the complaints will be forwarded to the invention promoter for response and that the complaint and response will be made available to the public as required by the Inventors’ Rights Act. If the USPTO does not receive a response from the invention promoter within 30 days, the complaint will be published without a response. Under this program, the USPTO does not accept complaints that request confidentiality. The USPTO may refer submitted complaints to the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline, as appropriate. This information collection contains one form, PTO/2048A (Complaint Regarding Invention Promotion), which is used by the public to submit a complaint under this program. This form is available for download from the USPTO website. Use of this form is voluntary. Complainants may submit a complaint without the form as long as the complaint includes the necessary information and the submission is clearly marked as a complaint filed under the Inventors’ Rights Act. Invention promotion firms may use any format when responding to a submitted complaint; there is no associated USPTO form. Complaints and responses are posted at https://www.uspto.gov/patents/basics/using-legal-services/scam-prevention/published-complaints/published. Although the USPTO typically receives only a few complaints each year, that number is expected to rise given the recent announcement of new efforts to mitigate threats and protect the integrity of the U.S. patent system: https://www.uspto.gov/patents/fraud.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 35 USC 297 Name of Law: Inventors' Rights Act of 1999

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 21294	05/19/2025
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	90 FR 40824	08/21/2025
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title Form No. Form Name Complaint Regarding Invention Promoter PTO/SB/2048 Complaint Regarding Invention Promoter Responses to the Complaints

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	22	22	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	8	8	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	9	51	0	0	-42	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,505

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

Agency Contact: Toni Krasnic 571 272-7182

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
		(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
		(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
		(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
		(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
		(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
		(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
		(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
			(i) Why the information is being collected;
			(ii) Use of information;
			(iii) Burden estimate;
			(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
			(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
			(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
		(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
		(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
		(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date: 08/21/2025

---