Can a legal representative sign patent documents on behalf of the inventor?

Yes, a legal representative can sign patent documents on behalf of the inventor under certain circumstances. The MPEP 402.03 states:

Where a power of attorney or authorization of agent is given to a customer number, a practitioner must sign the correspondence if an applicant is to be represented.

This means that if a power of attorney has been granted, the authorized practitioner can sign documents on behalf of the inventor. However, it’s important to note that certain documents, such as the inventor’s oath or declaration, must still be signed by the inventor personally unless specific conditions are met (e.g., the inventor is deceased, legally incapacitated, or cannot be found after diligent effort).

To learn more:

• legal representative
• power of attorney
• inventor signature
• patent documents