What inspection rights do assignees of part interest have in patent applications?

Assignees of part interest in a patent application have specific inspection rights. According to MPEP 106.01: [A]n assignee of a part interest or a licensee of exclusive right is entitled to inspect the application. This means that while assignees of part interest cannot prosecute the application or exclude the applicant from the prosecution process, they…

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Can an assignee conduct patent prosecution after attorney withdrawal?

Yes, an assignee can conduct patent prosecution after attorney withdrawal under certain conditions: The assignee must have originally appointed the withdrawing attorney or agent. The assignee becomes recognized by the Office for all purposes in the application. The assignee can sign amendments and other papers related to the prosecution. The MPEP 402.06 states: ‘If the…

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Can an assignee revoke power of attorney in all types of patent applications?

Can an assignee revoke power of attorney in all types of patent applications? An assignee’s ability to revoke power of attorney applies to most, but not all, types of patent applications. According to MPEP 402.07, there are specific scenarios where this is explicitly allowed: “For applications involved in an interference or derivation proceeding, 37 CFR…

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Who can sign a submission establishing ownership for a pre-AIA patent application?

For pre-AIA patent applications (filed before September 16, 2012), the submission establishing ownership must be signed by a party authorized to act on behalf of the assignee. According to MPEP 324, this can be done in several ways: A person with apparent authority in the organization, such as an officer (e.g., CEO, president, vice-president, secretary,…

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