37 CFR § 11.503 — Responsibilities regarding (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP
37 CFR § 11.503 Responsibilities regarding
Source: Patent Rule (37 CFR)BlueIron Update:
This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 11.503, including 0 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.
Official MPEP § 11.503 — Responsibilities regarding
Source: USPTOLast Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22
11.503 Responsibilities regarding non-practitioner assistance.
With respect to a non-practitioner assistant employed or retained by or associated with a practitioner:
- (a) A practitioner who is a partner, and a practitioner who individually or together with other practitioners possesses comparable managerial authority in a law firm shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the firm has in effect measures giving reasonable assurance that the person’s conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the practitioner;
- (b) A practitioner having direct supervisory authority over the non-practitioner assistant shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that the person’s conduct is compatible with the professional obligations of the practitioner; and
- (c) A practitioner shall be responsible for
conduct of such a person that would be a violation of the USPTO
Rules of Professional Conduct if engaged in by a practitioner
if:
- (1) The practitioner orders or, with the knowledge of the specific conduct, ratifies the conduct involved; or
- (2) The practitioner is a partner or has comparable managerial authority in the law firm in which the person is employed, or has direct supervisory authority over the person, and knows of the conduct at a time when its consequences can be avoided or mitigated but fails to take reasonable remedial action.
[Added 78 FR 20180, Apr. 3, 2013, effective May 3, 2013]