Z:gnu-www-ja-dmarti-patent--6cbc32-The Public Advisory Committees/en

The Public Advisory Committees are each composed of nine (9) voting members who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce (the ``Secretary) and who have ``substantial backgrounds and achievement in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and office automation. 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(3). The Public Advisory Committee members must be United States citizens and represent the interests of diverse users of the USPTO both large and small entity applicants in proportion to the number of such applications filed. In the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, at least twenty-five (25) percent of the members must represent ``small business concerns, independent inventors, and nonprofit organizations,'' and at least one member must represent the independent inventors' community. 35 U.S.C. 5(b)(2). Each of the Public Advisory Committees also includes three (3) non-voting members representing each labor organization recognized by the USPTO.