611.05(b)    Replying to a Notice of Incomplete Response

If the individual whose name appears beneath the signature is an authorized signer, and the applicant is not represented by a qualified U.S. attorney or required to be represented by a qualified U.S. attorney, he or she may simply telephone or send an email message to clarify the record, and the USPTO staff will make an appropriate Note to the File in the record, review the previously submitted response, and take the appropriate action.

A proper reply to a notice of incomplete response must state the nature of the relationship of the signer to the applicant or registrant.  If the signer has legal authority to bind the applicant or registrant, the person should so state, and must set forth his or her title or position.  If the signer is a qualified U.S. attorney who may practice before the USPTO pursuant to 37 C.F.R. §11.14(a),the attorney should identify himself or herself as such an attorney and must provide the required bar information and statement of good standing. See TMEP §§602.01, 602.01(a). If the signer meets the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§11.14(b)  or (c), the person should explain how he or she meets these requirements.

In a pending application, if the person who signed the response is not an authorized signer, the applicant is not represented by a qualified U.S. attorney or required to be represented by a qualified U.S. attorney, and all proposed amendments in the improperly signed response can be resolved by an examiner’s amendment, then the individual applicant or a person with legal authority to bind a juristic applicant (e.g., a corporate officer or general partner of a partnership) may telephone the examining attorney to authorize such an amendment.  Otherwise, when the person who signed the response is not an authorized signer, the applicant must timely submit a properly signed response.  See TMEP §§611.03(b), 611.06–611.06(h), and 712.01 regarding the proper party to sign a response to an Office action.

See TMEP §604.04 regarding changes of attorney.