502.03    Oral Hearings on Motions

A formal oral hearing at the Board is not held on a motion except by order of the Board. [ Note 1.] It is the practice of the Board to deny a request for an oral hearing on a motion unless, in the opinion of the Board, an oral hearing is necessary to clarify the issues to be decided. Ordinarily, arguments on a motion are, and should be, adequately presented in the briefs thereon, and therefore the Board rarely grants a request for an oral hearing on a motion. [ Note 2.] In contrast, a telephone conference with a Board attorney or judge may be used in lieu of a brief to present arguments in support of or against a motion. [ Note 3.] See TBMP § 413.01 and TBMP § 502.06 for further information regarding telephone conferences on motions.

NOTES:

 1.   37 C.F.R. § 2.127(a).

 2.   The Scotch Whiskey Association v. United States Distilled Products Co., 13 USPQ2d 1711 (TTAB 1989), recon. denied, 17 USPQ2d 1240 (TTAB 1990), dismissed, 18 USPQ2d 1391, 1391 n.3 (TTAB 1991) (issues on motion to dismiss not so extraordinary to warrant an oral hearing), rev’d on other grounds, 952 F.2d 1317, 21 USPQ2d 1145 (Fed. Cir. 1991); TBC Corp. v. Grand Prix Ltd., 12 USPQ2d 1311, 1313 n.3 (TTAB 1989) (exception to usual practice is not warranted). Cf. Federal Trade Commission v. Formica Corp., 200 USPQ 182, 186 (TTAB 1978) (oral hearing on motion allowed in view of importance and novelty of issue).

 3.   37 C.F.R. § 2.127(a). See, e.g., Byer California v. Clothing for Modern Times, 95 USPQ2d 1175, 1176 (TTAB 2010).