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. In the vast majority of cases, an oral hearing is not requested. 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 .

Board practice does not allow parties to submit additional comments or clarify their positions after oral hearing unless specifically requested to do so by the Board. [ Note 3.]

Following an oral hearing, the Board will add as an entry in TTABVUE an appearance record identifying the presiding judges and the individuals who appeared on behalf of each party.

Questions or inquiries regarding an oral hearing can be directed to TTABHearings@uspto.gov

Parties and judges may attend oral hearings in person or, at the discretion of the Board, remotely through video conference. [ Note 4.]

NOTES:

 1.   37 C.F.R. § 2.116(f).

 2.   See 37 C.F.R. § 2.123(k).

 3.   Swiss Watch International Inc. v. Federation of the Swiss Watch Industry, 101 USPQ2d 1731, 1739 n.19 (TTAB 2012) ("Motion to Request Clarification After Oral Argument" denied; "[i]f petitioner had some question about how to comply with the Board’s request, perhaps in view of the confidentiality agreements the parties had signed, a motion for clarification might have been warranted on this subject.").

 4.   37 C.F.R. § 2.129(a).