712.01    Persons Who May Sign Response

The response must be properly signed in accordance with the guidelines in TMEP §611.03(b). See TMEP §§611.06-611.06(h) for persons with legal authority to bind various types of juristic entities and §§602-602.03(c) regarding persons qualified to represent others before the USPTO in trademark matters.

When it appears that a response to an Office action is signed by an improper party, the examining attorney must follow the procedures in TMEP §§611.05-611.05(c). See TMEP §611.04 for examples of authorized and potentially unauthorized signatories.