802.01 In General
The oral hearing on the case in an inter partes proceeding before the Board corresponds to the oral summation in court proceedings after all the evidence is in. [ Note 1.] For information on oral hearings in ex parte cases, see TBMP § 1216.
An oral hearing is optional and is scheduled only if a timely request therefor is filed by a party to the proceeding. The oral hearing provides a party with one last opportunity to emphasize its strongest arguments, and to refute its adversary's arguments. It is particularly useful in cases with complex issues or a complex record, or where the defendant needs to respond to arguments in the plaintiff's reply brief. If neither party requests an oral hearing, the case will be decided on the evidence made of record during the testimony periods.
Subject to Fed. R. Civ. P. 11, a party is entitled to offer at oral hearing any argument it feels will be to its advantage. However, the facts recited and arguments made at oral hearing must be based on the evidence offered at trial. An oral hearing may not be used as a vehicle for the introduction of evidence. [ Note 2.] TBMP § 704.06 and TBMP § 801.01 .
NOTES:
2. See 37 CFR § 2.123(l).