Can one co-inventor revoke a power of attorney in a patent application?
This page is an FAQ based on guidance 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.
No, a single co-inventor cannot unilaterally revoke a power of attorney in a patent application. The MPEP 402.10 states:
A power of attorney may not be revoked by less than all of the applicants or owners of the entire interest without good and sufficient reason, and the revocation must be approved by the Director.
This means that to revoke a power of attorney, all co-inventors or owners of the entire interest must agree to the revocation. If a single co-inventor wishes to revoke the power of attorney, they must provide a good and sufficient reason, and the revocation must be approved by the Director of the USPTO.