What are the consequences of unauthorized participation by a protestor?
While the MPEP Section 1907 does not explicitly outline the consequences of unauthorized participation by a protestor, it emphasizes the importance of preventing such interactions:
“Office personnel must exercise care to ensure that substantive matters relating to the application are not discussed ex parte with protestor or communicated in writing ex parte to protestor.”
Unauthorized participation could potentially compromise the integrity of the patent examination process. Consequences may include disregarding any information obtained through unauthorized communication and possible sanctions for violating USPTO procedures. For more information on related topics, refer to MPEP Section 1134 on Express Abandonment.
To learn more:
Topics:
MPEP 1900 - Protest,
MPEP 1907 - Unauthorized Participation By Protestor,
Patent Law,
Patent Procedure