411.04    Discovery Depositions

A discovery deposition is taken out of the presence of the Board. Therefore, if the witness being deposed, or the attorney for the witness, believes a question is improper, an objection may be stated, but the question normally should be answered subject to the stated objection.

If a party fails to designate a person pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 30(b)(6) or Fed. R. Civ. P. 31(a)(4), or if a party or such designated person, or an officer, director, or managing agent of a party, fails to attend a discovery deposition, or fails to answer any question propounded in a discovery deposition, the party seeking discovery may file a motion with the Board for an order to compel a designation, or attendance at a deposition, or an answer. [ Note 1.] A motion to compel discovery must be filed before the day of the deadline for pretrial disclosures for the first testimony period as originally set or as reset. [ Note 2.] For information concerning motions to compel, see TBMP § 523.

Because the Board does not have jurisdiction over a non-party witness, a motion to compel is not available as a remedy when such a witness refuses a request for deposition. However, if the deposing party has secured the non-party’s attendance by obtaining a subpoena from an appropriate United States district court, see 35 U.S.C. § 24, the subpoena may be enforced by returning to the issuing court. See TBMP § 404.03(a)(2). Similarly, if a non-party witness has appeared voluntarily for a deposition, but objects to and refuses to answer particular questions propounded during the deposition, the deposing party must seek relief from an appropriate United States district court and may not file a motion to compel with the Board. Specifically, the propounding party may attempt to obtain an immediate ruling on the propriety of the objection by adjourning the deposition and applying, under 35 U.S.C. § 24, to the federal district court in the jurisdiction where the deposition is being taken, for an order compelling the witness to answer. [ Note 3.] See TBMP §404.08(c).

NOTES:

 1.   37 C.F.R. § 2.120(f)(1). See Neville Chemical Co. v. Lubrizol Corp., 183 USPQ 184, 189 (TTAB 1974) (if a party fails or refuses to answer any proper question during the taking of a discovery deposition, the party may file a motion to compel with the Board).Cf. Fed. R. Civ. P. 37(a).

 2.   37 C.F.R. §2.120(f)(1). See also MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES TO TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARD RULES OF PRACTICE; CLARIFICATION, 82 Fed. Reg. 33804 (July 21, 2017).

3. See Ferro Corp. v. SCM Corp., 219 USPQ 346, 351 (TTAB 1983); Neville Chemical Co. v. Lubrizol Corp., 183 USPQ 184, 189 (TTAB 1974).