The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office) amends the Rules of Practice in Patent Cases to require patent applicants, patent owners, or parties to a patent matter whose domicile is not located within the United States (U.S.) or its territories (hereinafter foreign applicants/inventors, patent owners, or parties) to be represented by a patent practitioner who is registered to practice before the USPTO. A requirement that foreign applicants/inventors, patent owners, or parties be represented by a registered patent practitioner will bring the United States in line with most other countries that require that such parties be represented by a licensed or registered person in that country. Additionally, this requirement will reduce costs to the USPTO and enable the USPTO to more effectively use available mechanisms to enforce compliance by all foreign applicants/inventors, patent owners, or parties with U.S. statutory and regulatory requirements in patent matters.