What is the difference between a general power of attorney and a limited power of attorney in patent applications?

What is the difference between a general power of attorney and a limited power of attorney in patent applications?

In patent applications, there are two main types of power of attorney: general and limited. The MPEP 601.02 distinguishes between these as follows:

“A power of attorney may be in the form of a general power of attorney, e.g., to represent the client in all matters before the Office, or limited, e.g., to represent the client in a particular application or in a particular aspect of an application.”

Key differences include:

• General Power of Attorney: Grants broad authority to represent the client in all matters before the USPTO
• Limited Power of Attorney: Restricts the attorney’s authority to specific applications or aspects of an application

When deciding between the two, consider the scope of representation needed and any potential conflicts of interest. A limited power of attorney can be useful when working with multiple attorneys or when you want to maintain control over certain aspects of your patent portfolio.

To learn more:

• power of attorney
• general power of attorney
• limited power of attorney
• patent application