37 CFR § 1.3 — Business to be conducted with decorum and (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 1.3, including 11 rules from the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Summary

This section ensures that examiners maintain professional and respectful communication during patent application examination by avoiding offensive language and being sensitive to race, religion, sex, ethnic group, and nationality.

What this section covers

Defines the scope of this section, which addresses examiner conduct during patent application examination.
Identifies that this section focuses on ensuring a respectful and professional environment in the examination process.

Key obligations

Examiners must avoid using offensive language in their communications with applicants.
Examiners should be sensitive to race, religion, sex, ethnic group, and nationality in their communications.
Examiners must follow the USC/CFR guidelines for professional conduct during patent application examination.

Practice notes

Examiners should review their communications for any potentially offensive language before sending them.
Avoid using stereotypes or making assumptions based on an applicant's race, religion, sex, ethnic group, or nationality.

Examiner Must Object to Offensive Language and Depictions in Patent ApplicationsMPEP 608Recommended
Requirement for Decorum and Courtesy in Patent Office InteractionsMPEP 714.25Required
Papers Presented Without Decorum Not EnteredMPEP 714.25
Notice of Non-Entry for Violating DecorumMPEP 714.25
Complaints Against Examiners Must Be SeparatedMPEP 714.25Required
Review of Papers for Discourteous Remarks RequiredMPEP 714.25Recommended

Requirement for Decorum and Courtesy in Patent Office InteractionsMPEP 714.25Required
Complaints Against Examiners Must Be SeparatedMPEP 714.25Required

Amendments and Other Papers Must Comply With RulesMPEP 608
Amendatory Paper Not Entered Must Be Numbered and NotedMPEP 714.21Recommended
Discourteous Remarks in Filings Must Be Handled CarefullyMPEP 714.25Recommended
Deputy Commissioner Reviews Disrespectful RemarksMPEP 714.25
Office May Close or Remove Non-Entered PaperMPEP 714.25Permitted

MPEP Section	Rules
MPEP § 608	Examiner Must Object to Offensive Language and Depictions in Patent ApplicationsMPEP 608Recommended Amendments and Other Papers Must Comply With RulesMPEP 608
MPEP § 714.21	Amendatory Paper Not Entered Must Be Numbered and NotedMPEP 714.21Recommended
MPEP § 714.25	Requirement for Decorum and Courtesy in Patent Office InteractionsMPEP 714.25Required Papers Presented Without Decorum Not EnteredMPEP 714.25 Notice of Non-Entry for Violating DecorumMPEP 714.25 Complaints Against Examiners Must Be SeparatedMPEP 714.25Required Review of Papers for Discourteous Remarks RequiredMPEP 714.25Recommended Discourteous Remarks in Filings Must Be Handled CarefullyMPEP 714.25Recommended Deputy Commissioner Reviews Disrespectful RemarksMPEP 714.25 Office May Close or Remove Non-Entered PaperMPEP 714.25Permitted

Based on MPEP Last Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22

37 CFR § 1.3 — Business to be conducted with decorum and (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP

37 CFR § 1.3 Business to be conducted with decorum and

Summary

Official MPEP § 1.3 — Business to be conducted with decorum and

1.3 Business to be conducted with decorum and courtesy.

Verbatim in MPEP

Required Actions

Key Interpretations

Topics

MPEP Coverage