What are the requirements for conducting interviews with inventors or assignees?

When conducting interviews with inventors or assignees, examiners must adhere to specific requirements:

• The practitioner of record must authorize and be present for the interview.
• Inventors or assignees cannot participate without the practitioner’s presence.
• Examiners should not conduct interviews directly with inventors or assignees alone.

According to the MPEP 408: ‘Interviews with inventors or assignees and/or their attorneys or agents of record must be authorized by the practitioners of record. The practitioner of record must be present and an examiner may not conduct an interview with an inventor or assignee unless the practitioner is present.’

For more information on patent examination, visit: patent examination.