709.02 Persons With Whom the Examining Attorney May Discuss the Application in an Interview
In general, interviews are not granted to persons who lack proper authority from the applicant. See TMEP §§602–602.03(c) regarding persons who may represent an applicant before the USPTO in a trademark matter, and TMEP §§611.06–611.06(h) for information on persons with legal authority to bind various types of juristic applicants.
If the applicant is represented by a U.S. qualified attorney, the examining attorney may only discuss the application with the attorney. See TMEP §601.02. An examining attorney may also discuss the application of a Canadian applicant with a recognized Canadian trademark attorney or agent if one has been designated as an additional appointed attorney. If the applicant is neither required to be represented by an attorney nor is represented by one, the examining attorney may only speak with the applicant or someone with legal authority to bind the applicant. See TMEP §611.06-611.06(h) for information on persons with legal authority to bind various types of juristic applicants. If the applicant is required to be represented under 37 C.F.R. §2.11(a) but has not appointed a qualified U.S. attorney, the examining attorney may not discuss the application with the applicant. See TMEP §707.01 regarding who can authorize an examiner’s amendment and §708.02 regarding who can authorize a priority action.
The examining attorney may request proof of a person’s authority if there is any reason to suspect that the person is not, in fact, a qualified U.S. attorney who is authorized to represent the applicant. 37 C.F.R. §2.17(b)(2).
For an interview with an examining attorney who does not have signatory authority, arrangements should be made for the presence of an examining attorney who does have such authority and who is familiar with the application, so that an authoritative agreement may be reached, if possible, at the time of the interview.
USPTO employees are forbidden to engage in oral or written communication with a disbarred, suspended, or excluded practitioner (see TMEP §608.02), unless the attorney is the applicant.
Requests for interviews from third parties are inappropriate and should be directed to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Examination Policy. See TMEP §1801.