What are the requirements for a power of attorney to be valid in patent applications?

What are the requirements for a power of attorney to be valid in patent applications?

For a power of attorney to be valid in patent applications, it must meet the following requirements:

• It must be signed by the applicant for patent (e.g., the inventor) or the assignee of the entire interest.
• It must be in writing.
• It must name one or more representatives to act on behalf of the principal.

As stated in MPEP 402.04: ‘The power of attorney must be signed by the applicant for patent (e.g., the inventor(s)) or the assignee of the entire interest of the applicant.’ This ensures that only authorized individuals can appoint representatives to act on behalf of the applicant or assignee in patent matters.

To learn more:

• power of attorney
• patent applications
• validity requirements