903.02    Parties To And Service Of Civil Action

Trademark Act § 21(b), 15 U.S.C. § 1071(b)  Civil action; persons entitled to; jurisdiction of court; status of Director; procedure.

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  • (2) The Director shall not be made a party to an inter partes proceeding under this subsection, but he shall be notified of the filing of the complaint by the clerk of the court in which it is filed and shall have the right to intervene in the action.
  • (3) In any case where there is no adverse party, a copy of the complaint shall be served on the Director, and, unless the court finds the expenses to be unreasonable, all the expenses of the proceeding shall be paid by the party bringing the case, whether the final decision is in favor of such party or not. . . .
  • (4) Where there is an adverse party, such suit may be instituted against the party in interest as shown by the records of the United States Patent and Trademark Office at the time of the decision complained of, but any party in interest may become a party to the action....

When a party to a Board inter partes proceeding appeals a decision of the Board by commencing a civil action seeking review of the decision, the Director shall not be made a party to the civil action. However, the clerk of the court in which the civil action is filed must notify the Director of the filing of the complaint, and the Director has the right to intervene in the action. [ Note 1.]

The suit may be instituted against the party in interest as shown by the records of the USPTO at the time of the decision of which review is sought, but any party in interest may become a party to the action. [ Note 2.]

When an applicant in an ex parte proceeding appeals a decision of the Board by commencing a civil action seeking review of the decision, a copy of the complaint must be served on the USPTO Director (who is a party to the proceeding) and a copy must be filed with the Board through ESTTA. [ Note 3.] When review is sought for an ex parte decision, the party should select the ESTTA button "Appeal to District Court." Service of a complaint on the Director is governed by Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i), "Serving the United States, Its Agencies, Corporations, Officers, or Employees." Under Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(i), copies of the complaint and summons must be served in a timely manner on the USPTO Director, the U.S. Attorney for the district where the action is brought, and the Attorney General of the United States. Service of the summons and complaint on the USPTO Director must be made to the Office of General Counsel. [ Note 4.]

NOTES:

 1.   Trademark Act § 21(b)(2), 15 U.S.C. § 1071(b)(2).

 2.   Trademark Act § 21(b)(4), 15 U.S.C. § 1071(b)(4).

 3.   Trademark Act § 21(b)(3), 15 U.S.C. § 1071(b)(3), 37 C.F.R. § 2.145(c)(2).

 4.   See 37 C.F.R. § 104.2.