37 CFR § 11.106 — Confidentiality of (MPEP Coverage Index) – BlueIron IP
37 CFR § 11.106 Confidentiality of
Source: Patent Rule (37 CFR)BlueIron Update:
This page consolidates MPEP guidance interpreting 37 CFR § 11.106, 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 addresses the confidentiality obligations practitioners must maintain after withdrawing from representation, particularly for applications filed on or after September 16, 2012.
What this section covers
- Define that this section addresses confidentiality obligations when an attorney or agent withdraws from representing a client.
Key obligations
- State that practitioners must maintain confidentiality of client information even after withdrawal from representation.
- Identify the requirement to comply with AIA effective dates and related confidentiality obligations for applications filed on or after September 16, 2012.
- State that practitioners must adhere to USC and CFR requirements for maintaining confidentiality of client information after withdrawal.
Practice notes
- Provide a practical tip for practitioners to ensure they update their records and inform clients of confidentiality obligations after an attorney withdraws.
- Advise practitioners to be aware of the specific requirements for applications filed on or after September 16, 2012, and ensure compliance with AIA effective dates.
Official MPEP § 11.106 — Confidentiality of
Source: USPTOLast Modified: 10/30/2024 08:50:22
11.106 Confidentiality of information.
- (a) A practitioner shall not reveal information relating to the representation of a client unless the client gives informed consent, the disclosure is impliedly authorized in order to carry out the representation, the disclosure is permitted by paragraph (b) of this section, or the disclosure is required by paragraph (c) of this section.
- (b) A practitioner may reveal information
relating to the representation of a client to the extent the
practitioner reasonably believes necessary:
- (1) To prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm;
- (2) To prevent the client from engaging in inequitable conduct before the Office or from committing a crime or fraud that is reasonably certain to result in substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another and in furtherance of which the client has used or is using the practitioner’s services;
- (3) To prevent, mitigate, or rectify substantial injury to the financial interests or property of another that is reasonably certain to result or has resulted from the client’s commission of a crime, fraud, or inequitable conduct before the Office in furtherance of which the client has used the practitioner’s services;
- (4) To secure legal advice about the practitioner’s compliance with the USPTO Rules of Professional Conduct;
- (5) To establish a claim or defense on behalf of the practitioner in a controversy between the practitioner and the client, to establish a defense to a criminal charge or civil claim against the practitioner based upon conduct in which the client was involved, or to respond to allegations in any proceeding concerning the practitioner’s representation of the client;
- (6) To comply with other law or a court order; or
- (7) To detect and resolve conflicts of interest arising from the practitioner’s change of employment or from changes in the composition or ownership of a firm, but only if the revealed information would not compromise the practitioner-client privilege or otherwise prejudice the client.
- (c) A practitioner shall disclose to the Office information necessary to comply with applicable duty of disclosure provisions.
- (d) A practitioner shall make reasonable efforts to prevent the inadvertent or unauthorized disclosure of, or unauthorized access to, information relating to the representation of a client.
[Added 78 FR 20180, Apr. 3, 2013, effective May 3, 2013; revised, 86 FR 28442, May 26, 2021, effective June 25, 2021]
- Aia Practice
- Aia Overview
- Correspondence Address
- General Requirements
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- Signature Requirements
- Signature Practitioner
| MPEP Section | Rules |
|---|---|
| MPEP § 402.06 | |
| MPEP § 403 | |
| MPEP § 713.05 |