Are USPTO employees allowed to communicate with suspended or excluded practitioners?
Generally, no. MPEP 105 states: “U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) employees are forbidden to hold either oral or written communication with an attorney or agent who has been suspended or excluded from practice by the USPTO regarding an application.” This prohibition applies to all forms of communication about patent applications with suspended or excluded…
Read MoreHow should USPTO employees verify the identity of email senders in patent communications?
USPTO employees are required to verify the identity of email senders in patent communications to prevent misrepresentation or spoofing. According to MPEP 502.03: ‘Email must be initiated by a registered practitioner, or an applicant in a pro se application, and sufficient information must be provided to show representative capacity in compliance with 37 CFR 1.34.’…
Read MoreAre USPTO employees allowed to initiate email communications with patent applicants?
USPTO employees are generally not permitted to initiate email communications with patent applicants unless there is a written authorization on record. According to MPEP 502.03: ‘USPTO employees are NOT permitted to initiate communications with applicants via Internet email unless there is a written authorization of record in the patent application by the applicant.’ However, if…
Read More