# 37 C.F.R. § 11.10 (2026): Restrictions on practice in patent matters; former and current Office employees; government employees

> Federal · Regulations · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_10

## Section

- **Citation:** 37 C.F.R. § 11.10 (2026)
- **Heading:** Restrictions on practice in patent matters; former and current Office employees; government employees
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Regulations
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Title 37 CFR: Patents, Trademarks, and Copyrights / Chapter I: UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE / Part 11: REPRESENTATION OF OTHERS BEFORE THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE / Subpart B: Recognition To Practice Before the USPTO / § 11.10: § 11.10   Restrictions on practice in patent matters › former and current Office employees › government employees.

## Text

(a) Only practitioners registered under § 11.6; individuals given limited recognition under § 11.9(a) or (b) or § 11.16; or individuals admitted
pro hac vice
as provided in § 41.5(a) or 42.10(c) of this chapter are permitted to represent others before the Office in patent matters.
(b)
Post employment agreement of former Office employee.
No individual who has served in the patent examining corps or elsewhere in the Office may practice before the Office after termination of his or her service, unless he or she signs a written undertaking agreeing:
(1) To not knowingly act as an agent, attorney, or design patent practitioner for or otherwise represent any other person:
(i) Before the Office,
(ii) In connection with any particular patent or patent application,
(iii) In which said employee participated personally and substantially as an employee of the Office; and
(2) To not knowingly act within two years after terminating employment by the Office as agent, attorney, or design patent practitioner for, or otherwise represent any other person:
(i) Before the Office,
(ii) In connection with any particular patent or patent application,
(iii) If such patent or patent application was pending under the employee's official responsibility as an officer or employee within a period of one year prior to the termination of such responsibility.
[86 FR 28454, May 26, 2021, as amended at 88 FR 78650, Nov. 16, 2023]

## Nearby sections

- [37 C.F.R. § 11.5 (2026) § 11.5   Register of attorneys and agents in patent matters; practice before the Office.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_5.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.6 (2026) § 11.6   Registration of attorneys and agents.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_6.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.7 (2026) § 11.7   Requirements for registration.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_7.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.8 (2026) § 11.8   Oath and registration fee.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_8.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.9 (2026) § 11.9   Limited recognition in patent matters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_9.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.10 (2026) § 11.10   Restrictions on practice in patent matters; former and current Office employees; government employees.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_10.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.11 (2026) § 11.11   Administrative suspension, inactivation, resignation, reinstatement, and revocation.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_11.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.14 (2026) § 11.14   Individuals who may practice before the Office in trademark and other non-patent matters.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_14.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.15 (2026) § 11.15   Refusal to recognize a practitioner.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_15.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.16 (2026) § 11.16   Requirements for admission to the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_16.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.17 (2026) § 11.17   Requirements for participation in the USPTO Law School Clinic Certification Program.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_17.md)
- [37 C.F.R. § 11.18 (2026) § 11.18   Signature and certificate for correspondence filed in the Office.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_18.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/CFR_T37_P11_S11_10. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.