538 Motion For Leave to File Amicus Brief
Amicus briefs are neither provided for nor prohibited in the rules governing practice in Board proceedings. Thus, the Board may, in its discretion, entertain an amicus brief if the Board finds that such a brief is warranted under the circumstances of a particular case. [ Note 1.]
An entity that wishes to file an amicus brief should file a motion with the Board for leave to do so. The motion may be accompanied by the proposed brief. An amicus brief should be filed within the time allowed the party whose position the brief serves to support, unless all parties consent otherwise, or the Board, upon motion for good cause shown, permits a later filing. [ Note 2.]
A motion for leave to file an amicus brief may not be used as a substitute for a timely notice of opposition or petition for cancellation.
Motions for leave to file an amicus brief are rarely filed in Board proceedings, and the granting thereof by the Board is even rarer. The Board will determine whether the proposed brief will aid the Board in resolving issues of law, whether the moving party is effectively seeking a role in the proceeding beyond arguing questions of law, and is effectively arguing factual matters, and whether any partisan arguments would prejudice a party to the proceeding. [ Note 3.]
NOTES:
1. See, e.g., Harjo v. Pro-Football Inc., 45 USPQ2d 1789, 1791 (TTAB 1998) (leave to file amicus brief denied as unnecessary to resolve issues which have been adequately addressed by parties);Federal Circuit Rule 29 (governing the filing of amicus briefs in appeals to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit).
2. Cf. Federal Circuit Rule 29.
3. See Harjo v. Pro-Football Inc., 45 USPQ2d 1789, 1791 (TTAB 1998) (motion denied where Board, noting "intimate" relationship between movants and petitioners, found that movants were seeking to introduce new evidence and advance partisan arguments).