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DOC/PTO RIN: 0651-AD75 Publication ID: Fall 2024 
Title: Expanding Opportunities to Appear Before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
Abstract:

As part of its initiatives to expand access to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO or Office), the USPTO amends the rules regarding admission to practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB or Board) in proceedings under the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA proceedings) to give parties the option to designate non-registered practitioners who are recognized pro hac vice (i.e., granted recognition in a specific PTAB proceeding) as lead counsel; excuse parties from the requirement to designate back-up counsel upon a showing of good cause such as a lack of resources to hire two counsel; establish a streamlined alternative procedure for recognizing counsel pro hac vice that is available when counsel has previously been recognized pro hac vice in a different PTAB proceeding; and clarify that those recognized pro hac vice have a duty to inform the Board of subsequent events that render inaccurate or incomplete representations they made to obtain pro hac vice recognition.

 
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 
CFR Citation: 37 CFR 42   
Legal Authority: 35 U.S.C. 2(b)(2)    35 U.S.C. 6    35 U.S.C. 21    35 U.S.C. 23    35 U.S.C. 41    35 U.S.C. 135    35 U.S.C. 311 to 312    35 U.S.C. 316    35 U.S.C. 321 to 326    Pub. L. 112-29    Pub. L. 112-274   
Legal Deadline:  None
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  02/21/2024  89 FR 13017   
NPRM Comment Period End  05/21/2024 
Final Action  12/00/2024 
Final Action Effective  02/00/2025 
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:
Michael Tierney
Vice Chief Administrative Patent Judge
Department of Commerce
Patent and Trademark Office
600 Dulany Street, P.O. Box 1450,
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
Phone:571 272-9797
Fax:571 273-0053
Email: michael.tierney@uspto.gov