What are the rules for conducting interviews with patent practitioners in foreign countries?

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.

When conducting interviews with patent practitioners in foreign countries, examiners must follow specific guidelines:

• Interviews must be conducted via video conference or telephone.
• In-person interviews in foreign countries are not permitted.
• The same interview policies and procedures apply as for domestic interviews.

As stated in the MPEP 408: ‘For patent practitioners in foreign countries, interviews must be scheduled to be conducted by video conference or telephone. Examiners may not hold in-person interviews with patent practitioners in foreign countries.’