<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><p>And no, I did not know that the PRA supposedly puts a cap on how
many beta testers are permitted ("9"). It sort of looks like a
made-up excuse for failing to do proper beta testing. The PRA was
in place back when I served as </p></div></blockquote><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><blockquote>
<p>Your email was forwarded to me for further information about
Trademark Center testing. As you know, the Paperwork Reduction
Act constrains the research options of federal agencies, so our
customer experience team conducts standardized research using
groups of volunteers numbering 9 or fewer. We also conduct
direct observations and one-on-one user sessions.<br></p></blockquote></div></blockquote><div>
<div>Yes, the Paperwork Reduction Act has a step function of work for agencies at
ten. But for this kind of testing and survey and similar stuff, the PRA
has a "lightweight" filing path. (I will look it up if someone asks.) Yes, clearing a beta test will take the PTO's
regulatory counsel a couple hours. But it's much less than all the tasks that this person has represented as de minimis or previously cleared. (DOCX, the CLE rule, the Terminal Disclaimer rule, several of the rules implemented as fee-setting, etc.). I don't know exactly who this person is, but I have heard through several channels that he/she gives this "oh dear we can't do THAT" to many internal clients (that's why the PTO can't do surveys at live events, and the like), simply to get out of work.</div></div><span><span><p style="margin:0px 0px 10px;color:rgb(102,102,102);font-family:"Open Sans",sans-serif,Arial;font-size:14px"><span style="font-weight:700"><br></span></p></span></span><font size="1"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman""></span></font></div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><span></span><font size="1"><span style="line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman""></span></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></span><span><span style="font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;color:black"></span></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>