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DOC/PTO RIN: 0651-AD10 Publication ID: Fall 2017 
Title: Rule Recognizing Privileged Communications Between Clients and Patent Practitioners at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
Abstract:

This rule would recognize explicitly the same privilege for communications between clients and U.S. patent agents and between clients and foreign patent practitioners as exists between clients and U.S. attorneys, protecting those communications from discovery in trial practice proceedings at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Office or USPTO). The rule would apply to inter partes review ("IPR"), post-grant review ("PGR"), the transitional program for covered business method patents ("CBM"), and derivation proceedings.

 
Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC)  Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant 
RIN Status: Previously published in the Unified Agenda Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Final Rule Stage 
Major: No  Unfunded Mandates: No 
EO 13771 Designation: Not subject to, not significant 
CFR Citation: 37 CFR 42.62(a)   
Legal Authority: 125 Stat 284 (2011)    Pub. L. 112-29   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  10/18/2016  81 FR 71653   
NPRM Comment Period End  12/19/2016 
Final Rule  11/00/2017 
Final Rule Effective  12/00/2017 
Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: No  Government Levels Affected: None 
Small Entities Affected: No  Federalism: No 
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No 
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No 
Agency Contact:
Soma Saha
Patent Examiner
Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
P. O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313
Phone:571 272-8652
Fax:591 273-8652
Email: soma.saha@uspto.gov