105 Contact With Board Personnel
37 C.F.R. § 11.305 Impartiality and decorum of the tribunal.
- (a) A practitioner shall not:
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- (b) Communicate ex parte with such a person during the proceeding unless authorized to do so by law, rule or court order.
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Parties or their attorneys or other authorized representatives may telephone the Board to inquire about the status of a case or to ask for procedural information, but not to discuss the merits of a case or any particular issue. [ Note 1.] The telephone number of the Board is (571) 272-8500, or (800) 786-9199 (toll free). If an inquiry involves a particular case, the person making the inquiry should be prepared to give the number of the proceeding or application in question. Inquiries to the Board should not be made by email.
NOTES:
1. 37 C.F.R. § 11.305(b). See Melwani v. Allegiance Corp., 97 USPQ2d 1537, 1542 n.15 (TTAB 2010) (to inquire as to status of Board proceeding, party may call Board during business hours).