USPTO Personnel Cannot Testify

37 C.F.R. Part 104.

Subpart A--General Provisions

37 C.F.R.  Definitions.

Demand means a request, order, or subpoena for testimony

or documents for use in a legal proceeding.

Director means the Under Secretary of Commerce for

Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (

see

§1.9(j)).

Document means any record, paper, and other property

held by the Office, including without limitation, official letters, telegrams,

memoranda, reports, studies, calendar and diary entries, maps, graphs, pamphlets,

notes, charts, tabulations, analyses, statistical or informational accumulations, any

kind of summaries of meetings and conversations, film impressions, magnetic tapes,

and sound or mechanical reproductions.

Employee means any current or former officer or employee

of the Office.

Legal proceeding means any pretrial, trial, and

posttrial stages of existing or reasonably anticipated judicial or administrative

actions, hearings, investigations, or similar proceedings before courts, commissions,

boards or other tribunals, foreign or domestic. This phrase includes all phases of

discovery as well as responses to formal or informal requests by attorneys or others

involved in legal proceedings.

Office means the United States Patent and Trademark

Office, including any operating unit in the United States Patent and Trademark

Office, and its predecessors, the Patent Office and the Patent and Trademark

Office.

Official business means the authorized business of the

Office.

General Counsel means the General Counsel of the

Office.

Testimony means a statement in any form, including

personal appearances before a court or other legal tribunal, interviews, depositions,

telephonic, televised, or videotaped statements or any responses given during

discovery or similar proceedings, which response would involve more than the

production of documents, including a declaration under 35 U.S.C. §25 or 28

U.S.C. §1746

unsel of the

Office.

Testimony means a statement in any form, including

personal appearances before a court or other legal tribunal, interviews, depositions,

telephonic, televised, or videotaped statements or any responses given during

discovery or similar proceedings, which response would involve more than the

production of documents, including a declaration under 35 U.S.C. §25 or 28

U.S.C. §1746.

United States means the Federal Government, its

departments and agencies, individuals acting on behalf of the Federal Government, and

parties to the extent they are represented by the United States.

37 C.F.R.  Address for mail and service; telephone number.

(a) Mail under this part should be addressed to the

Office of the General Counsel, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O.

Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

(b) Service by hand should be made during business

hours to the Office of the General Counsel, 10B20, Madison Building East, 600

Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia.

(c) The Office of the General Counsel may be reached

by telephone at 571-272-7000 during business hours.

37 C.F.R.  Waiver of rules.

In extraordinary situations, when the interest of

justice requires, the General Counsel may waive or suspend the rules of this part,

sua sponte or on petition of an interested party to the Director, subject to such

requirements as the General Counsel may impose. Any petition must be accompanied by a

petition fee of $130.00.

37 C.F.R.  Relationship of this Part to the Federal Rules of Civil or Criminal

Procedure.

Nothing in this part waives or limits any requirement

under the Federal Rules of Civil or Criminal Procedure.

Subpart B--Service of Process

37 C.F.R.  Scope and purpose.

(a) This subpart sets forth the procedures to be

followed when a summons and complaint is served on the Office or on the

Director or an employee in his or her official capacity.

(b) This subpart is intended, and should be

construed, to ensure the efficient administration of the Office and not to

impede any legal proceeding.

nal Procedure.

Subpart B--Service of Process

37 C.F.R.  Scope and purpose.

(a) This subpart sets forth the procedures to be

followed when a summons and complaint is served on the Office or on the

Director or an employee in his or her official capacity.

(b) This subpart is intended, and should be

construed, to ensure the efficient administration of the Office and not to

impede any legal proceeding.

(c) This subpart does not apply to subpoenas, the

procedures for which are set out in subpart C.

(d) This subpart does not apply to service of process

made on an employee personally on matters not related to official business of

the Office or to the official responsibilities of the employee.

37 C.F.R.  Acceptance of service of process.

(a) Any summons and complaint to be served in person

or by registered or certified mail or as otherwise authorized by law on the

Office, on the Director, or on an employee in his or her official capacity,

shall be served as indicated in §104.2.

(b) Any employee of the Office served with a summons

and complaint shall immediately notify, and shall deliver the summons and

complaint to, the Office of the General Counsel.

(c) Any employee receiving a summons and complaint

shall note on the summons and complaint the date, hour, and place of service

and whether service was by hand or by mail.

(d) When a legal proceeding is brought to hold an

employee personally liable in connection with an action taken in the conduct of

official business, rather than liable in an official capacity, the employee by

law is to be served personally with process.

See

Fed. R.

Civ. P. 4(e).  An employee sued personally for an action taken in the conduct

of official business shall immediately notify and deliver a copy of the summons

and complaint to the General Counsel.

(e) An employee sued personally in connection with

official business may be represented by the Department of Justice at its

discretion (28 CFR 50.15 and 50.16).

served personally with process.

See

Fed. R.

Civ. P. 4(e).  An employee sued personally for an action taken in the conduct

of official business shall immediately notify and deliver a copy of the summons

and complaint to the General Counsel.

(e) An employee sued personally in connection with

official business may be represented by the Department of Justice at its

discretion (28 CFR 50.15 and 50.16).

(f) The Office will only accept service of process

for an employee in the employee’s official capacity.

Subpart C--Employee Testimony and Production of Documents in Legal

Proceedings

37 C.F.R.  Scope and purpose.

(a) This subpart sets forth the policies and

procedures of the Office regarding the testimony of employees as witnesses in

legal proceedings and the production or disclosure of information contained in

Office documents for use in legal proceedings pursuant to a demand.

(b) Exceptions.  This subpart does not apply to any

legal proceeding in which:

(1) An employee is to testify regarding facts or

events that are unrelated to official business; or

(2) A former employee is to testify as an expert in

connection with a particular matter in which the former employee did not

participate personally while at the Office.

37 C.F.R.  Demand for testimony or production of documents.

(a) Whenever a demand for testimony or for the

production of documents is made upon an employee, the employee shall

immediately notify the Office of the General Counsel at the telephone number or

addresses in §104.2 and make arrangements to send the subpoena to the General

Counsel promptly.

(b) An employee may not give testimony, produce

documents, or answer inquiries from a person not employed by the Office

regarding testimony or documents subject to a demand or a potential demand

under the provisions of this subpart without the approval of the General

Counsel. The General Counsel may authorize the provision of certified copies

not otherwise available under Part 1 of this title subject to payment of

applicable fees under §1.19.

e

documents, or answer inquiries from a person not employed by the Office

regarding testimony or documents subject to a demand or a potential demand

under the provisions of this subpart without the approval of the General

Counsel. The General Counsel may authorize the provision of certified copies

not otherwise available under Part 1 of this title subject to payment of

applicable fees under §1.19.

(c)(1) Demand for testimony or documents.  A demand for

the testimony of an employee under this subpart shall be addressed to the

General Counsel as indicated in §104.2.

(2) Subpoenas.  A subpoena for employee testimony or

for a document shall be served in accordance with the Federal Rules of Civil or

Criminal Procedure or applicable state procedure, and a copy of the subpoena

shall be sent to the General Counsel as indicated in §104.2.

(3) Affidavits. Except when the United States is a

party, every demand shall be accompanied by an affidavit or declaration under

28 U.S.C. 1746  or 35 U.S.C. 25(b)  setting forth the title of the legal

proceeding, the forum, the requesting party’s interest in the legal proceeding,

the reason for the demand, a showing that the desired testimony or document is

not reasonably available from any other source, and, if testimony is requested,

the intended use of the testimony, a general summary of the desired testimony,

and a showing that no document could be provided and used in lieu of

testimony.

(d) Failure of the attorney to cooperate in good

faith to enable the General Counsel to make an informed determination under

this subpart may serve as a basis for a determination not to comply with the

demand.

(e) A determination under this subpart to comply or

not to comply with a demand is not a waiver or an assertion of any other ground

for noncompliance, including privilege, lack of relevance, or technical

deficiency.

ey to cooperate in good

faith to enable the General Counsel to make an informed determination under

this subpart may serve as a basis for a determination not to comply with the

demand.

(e) A determination under this subpart to comply or

not to comply with a demand is not a waiver or an assertion of any other ground

for noncompliance, including privilege, lack of relevance, or technical

deficiency.

(f) Noncompliance.  If the General Counsel makes a

determination not to comply, he or she will seek Department of Justice

representation for the employee and will attempt to have the subpoena modified

or quashed.  If Department of Justice representation cannot be arranged, the

employee should appear at the time and place set forth in the subpoena.  In

such a case, the employee should produce a copy of these rules and state that

the General Counsel has advised the employee not to provide the requested

testimony nor to produce the requested document.  If a legal tribunal rules

that the demand in the subpoena must be complied with, the employee shall

respectfully decline to comply with the demand....

37 C.F.R.  Expert or opinion testimony.

(a)(1) If the General Counsel authorizes an employee to

give testimony in a legal proceeding not involving the United States, the

testimony, if otherwise proper, shall be limited to facts within the personal

knowledge of the employee. Employees, with or without compensation, shall not

provide expert testimony in any legal proceedings regarding Office information,

subjects, or activities except on behalf of the United States or a party

represented by the United States Department of Justice.

(2) The General Counsel may authorize an employee to

appear and give the expert or opinion testimony upon the requester showing,

pursuant to §104.3 of this part, that exceptional circumstances warrant such

testimony and that the anticipated testimony will not be adverse to the

interest of the Office or the United States.

ted States or a party

represented by the United States Department of Justice.

(2) The General Counsel may authorize an employee to

appear and give the expert or opinion testimony upon the requester showing,

pursuant to §104.3 of this part, that exceptional circumstances warrant such

testimony and that the anticipated testimony will not be adverse to the

interest of the Office or the United States.

(b)(1) If, while testifying in any legal proceeding, an

employee is asked for expert or opinion testimony regarding Office information,

subjects, or activities, which testimony has not been approved in advance in

writing in accordance with the regulations in this subpart, the witness

shall:

(i) Respectfully decline to answer on the grounds

that such expert or opinion testimony is forbidden by this subpart;

(ii) Request an opportunity to consult with the

General Counsel before giving such testimony; and

(iii) Explain that upon such consultation, approval for

such testimony may be provided.

(2) If the tribunal conducting the proceeding then

orders the employee to provide expert or opinion testimony regarding Office

information, subjects, or activities without the opportunity to consult with

the General Counsel, the employee shall respectfully refuse to provide such

testimony....

(c) If an employee is unaware of the regulations in

this subpart and provides expert or opinion testimony regarding Office

information, subjects, or activities in a legal proceeding without the

aforementioned consultation, the employee shall, as soon after testifying as

possible, inform the General Counsel that such testimony was given and provide

a written summary of the expert or opinion testimony provided.

ployee is unaware of the regulations in

this subpart and provides expert or opinion testimony regarding Office

information, subjects, or activities in a legal proceeding without the

aforementioned consultation, the employee shall, as soon after testifying as

possible, inform the General Counsel that such testimony was given and provide

a written summary of the expert or opinion testimony provided.

(d) Proceeding where the United States is a party.

In a proceeding in which the United States is a party or is representing a

party, an employee may not testify as an expert or opinion witness for any

party other than the United States.

37 C.F.R.  Demands or requests in legal proceedings for records protected by

confidentiality statutes.

Demands in legal proceedings for the production of

records, or for the testimony of employees regarding information protected by the

confidentiality provisions of the Patent Act (35 U.S.C. 122),  the Privacy Act (5

U.S.C. 552a),  the Trade Secrets Act (18 U.S.C. 1905),  or any other confidentiality

statute, must satisfy the requirements for disclosure set forth in those statutes and

associated rules before the records may be provided or testimony given.

Subpart D--Employee Indemnification

37 C.F.R.  Scope.

The procedure in this subpart shall be followed if a

civil action or proceeding is brought, in any court, against an employee (including

the employee’s estate) for personal injury, loss of property, or death, resulting

from the employee’s activities while acting within the scope of the employee’s office

or employment.  When the employee is incapacitated or deceased, actions required of

an employee should be performed by the employee’s executor, administrator, or

comparable legal representative.

37 C.F.R.  Procedure for requesting indemnification.

estate) for personal injury, loss of property, or death, resulting

from the employee’s activities while acting within the scope of the employee’s office

or employment.  When the employee is incapacitated or deceased, actions required of

an employee should be performed by the employee’s executor, administrator, or

comparable legal representative.

37 C.F.R.  Procedure for requesting indemnification.

(a) After being served with process or pleadings in

such an action or proceeding, the employee shall within five (5) calendar days

of receipt, deliver to the General Counsel all such process and pleadings or an

attested true copy thereof, together with a fully detailed report of the

circumstances of the incident giving rise to the court action or

proceeding.

(b)(1) An employee may request indemnification to

satisfy a verdict, judgment, or award entered against that employee only if the

employee has timely satisfied the requirements of paragraph (a) of this

section.

(2) No request for indemnification will be considered

unless the employee has submitted a written request through the employee’s

supervisory chain to the General Counsel with:

(i) Appropriate documentation, including copies of

the verdict, judgment, appeal bond, award, or settlement proposal;

(ii) The employee’s explanation of how the employee

was acting within the scope of the employee’s employment; and

(iii) The employee’s statement of whether the employee

has insurance or any other source of indemnification.

Subpart E--Tort Claims

37 C.F.R.  Procedure for filing claims.

Administrative claims against the Office filed

pursuant to the administrative claims provision of the Federal Tort Claims Act (28

U.S.C. 2672)  and the corresponding Department of Justice regulations (28 CFR Part

14) shall be filed with the General Counsel as indicated in §104.2.

37 C.F.R.  Finality of settlement or denial of claims

n.

Subpart E--Tort Claims

37 C.F.R.  Procedure for filing claims.

Administrative claims against the Office filed

pursuant to the administrative claims provision of the Federal Tort Claims Act (28

U.S.C. 2672)  and the corresponding Department of Justice regulations (28 CFR Part

14) shall be filed with the General Counsel as indicated in §104.2.

37 C.F.R.  Finality of settlement or denial of claims.

Only a decision of the Director or the General Counsel

regarding settlement or denial of any claim under this subpart may be considered

final for the purpose of judicial review.

It is the policy of the USPTO that its employees,

including trademark examining attorneys, will not appear as witnesses or give testimony

in legal proceedings, except under the conditions specified in 37 C.F.R. Part 104.  Any

employee who testifies contrary to this policy will be dismissed or removed.

Whenever an employee of the USPTO, including a trademark

examining attorney, is asked to testify or receives a subpoena, the employee shall

immediately notify the Office of the General Counsel.  Inquiries requesting testimony

should also be referred immediately to the Office of the General Counsel.

Trademark examining attorneys and other USPTO employees

who perform or assist in the performance of quasi-judicial functions, are forbidden to

testify as experts or to express opinions as to the validity of any registration.

Any individual desiring the testimony of an employee of

the USPTO, including the testimony of a trademark examining attorney or other

quasi-judicial employee, must comply with the provisions of 37 C.F.R. Part 104.

A request for testimony of an employee of the USPTO

should be made to the Office of the General Counsel at least ten working days prior to

the date of the expected testimony.

If an employee is authorized to testify, the employee

will be limited to testifying about facts within the employee’s personal knowledge.

Employees are prohibited from giving expert or opinion testimony.

Fischer

& Porter Co. v

request for testimony of an employee of the USPTO

should be made to the Office of the General Counsel at least ten working days prior to

the date of the expected testimony.

If an employee is authorized to testify, the employee

will be limited to testifying about facts within the employee’s personal knowledge.

Employees are prohibited from giving expert or opinion testimony.

Fischer

& Porter Co. v. Corning Glass Works

, 61 F.R.D. 321, 181 USPQ 329 (E.D.

Pa. 1974).  Likewise, employees are prohibited from answering hypothetical or

speculative questions.

Shaffer Tool Works v. Joy Mfg. Co.

, 167 USPQ

170 (S.D. Tex. 1970) (deposition of examiner should be limited to matters of fact and

must not go into hypothetical or speculative areas or the bases, reasons, mental

processes, analyses, or conclusions of the examiner);

In re Mayewsky

,

162 USPQ 86, 89 (E.D. Va. 1969) (deposition of an examiner must be restricted to

relevant matters of fact and must avoid any hypothetical or speculative questions or

conclusions).  Employees will not be permitted to give testimony with respect to subject

matter that is privileged.  Several court decisions limit testimony with respect to

quasi-judicial functions performed by employees.

U.S. v. Morgan

,

313 U.S. 409, 422 (1941) (improper to inquire into mental processes of quasi-judicial

officer or to examine the manner and extent to which the officer considered an

administrative record);

W. Elec. Co. v. Piezo Tech., Inc.

, 860 F.2d

428, 8 USPQ2d 1853 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (patent examiner may not be compelled to answer

questions that probe the examiner’s technical knowledge of the subject matter of a

patent);

In re Nilssen

, 851 F.2d 1401, 7 USPQ2d 1500 (Fed. Cir. 1988)

(technical or scientific qualifications of examiners-in-chief are not legally relevant

in appeal under 35 U.S.C. §134 since board members need not be skilled in the art to

render obviousness decision);

McCulloch Gas Processing Co. v. Dep't of

Energy

, 650 F.2d 1216, 1229 (Temp. Emer. Ct. App

knowledge of the subject matter of a

patent);

In re Nilssen

, 851 F.2d 1401, 7 USPQ2d 1500 (Fed. Cir. 1988)

(technical or scientific qualifications of examiners-in-chief are not legally relevant

in appeal under 35 U.S.C. §134 since board members need not be skilled in the art to

render obviousness decision);

McCulloch Gas Processing Co. v. Dep't of

Energy

, 650 F.2d 1216, 1229 (Temp. Emer. Ct. App. 1981) (discovery of

degree of expertise of individuals performing governmental functions not permitted);

Lange v. Comm'r

, 352 F. Supp. 116, 176

USPQ 162 (D.D.C. 1972) (technical qualifications of examiners-in-chief not relevant in Section

145 action).

In view of the discussion above, if an employee is

authorized to testify in connection with the employee’s involvement or assistance in a

quasi-judicial proceeding that took place before the USPTO, the employee will not be

permitted to give testimony in response to questions that seek:

(1) Information about that employee’s:

(A) Background.

(B) Expertise.

(C) Qualifications to examine or otherwise consider a

particular patent or trademark application.

(D) Usual practice or whether the employee followed a

procedure set out in any USPTO manual of practice (including the MPEP or TMEP) in

a particular case.

(E) Consultation with another USPTO employee.

(F) Understanding of:

(i) A patented invention, an invention sought to be

patented, or patent application, patent, reexamination or interference file.

(ii) Prior art.

(iii) Registered subject matter, subject matter sought to

be registered, or a trademark application, registration, opposition, cancellation,

interference or concurrent use file.

(iv) Any USPTO manual of practice.

ther USPTO employee.

(F) Understanding of:

(i) A patented invention, an invention sought to be

patented, or patent application, patent, reexamination or interference file.

(ii) Prior art.

(iii) Registered subject matter, subject matter sought to

be registered, or a trademark application, registration, opposition, cancellation,

interference or concurrent use file.

(iv) Any USPTO manual of practice.

(v) USPTO regulations.

(vi) Patent, trademark, or other law.

(vii) The responsibilities of another USPTO employee.

(G) Reliance on particular facts or arguments.

(2) To inquire into the manner in and extent to which

the employee considered or studied material in performing the quasi-judicial

function.

(3) To inquire into the bases, reasons, mental

processes, analyses, or conclusions of that USPTO employee in performing the

quasi-judicial function.

Any request for testimony addressed or delivered to the

Office of the General Counsel must comply with 37 C.F.R. §104.22(c).  All requests must

be in writing.  The need for a subpoena may be obviated where the request complies with

37 C.F.R. §104.22(c) only if the party requesting the testimony meets the following

conditions:

(1) The party requesting the testimony identifies the

civil action or other legal proceeding for which the testimony is being taken.

The identification shall include:

(A) the style of the case,

(B) the civil action number,

(C) the district in which the civil action is

pending,

(D) the judge assigned to the case, and

(E) the name, address, and telephone number of counsel

for all parties in the civil action.

(2) The party agrees not to ask questions seeking

information that is precluded by 37 C.F.R. §104.23.

(3) The party must comply with applicable provisions of

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including Rule 30, and give ten working days

notice to the Office of the General Counsel prior to the date a deposition is

desired.  Fifteen working days notice is required for any deposition that is

desired to be taken between November 15 and January 15.

nformation that is precluded by 37 C.F.R. §104.23.

(3) The party must comply with applicable provisions of

the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, including Rule 30, and give ten working days

notice to the Office of the General Counsel prior to the date a deposition is

desired.  Fifteen working days notice is required for any deposition that is

desired to be taken between November 15 and January 15.

(4) The party agrees to notice the deposition at a place

convenient to the USPTO.  The Conference Room in the Office of the General Counsel

is deemed to be a place convenient to the USPTO.

(5) The party agrees to supply a copy of the transcript

of the deposition to the USPTO for its records.

Absent a written agreement meeting the conditions

specified in paragraphs (1) through (5), a party must comply with the specific terms of

37 C.F.R. §104.22(c), and the USPTO will not permit a deposition without issuance of a

subpoena.

See Service of Process & Testimony of

Employees of the Patent & Trademark Office & Production of Documents in Legal

Proceedings

, 1099 TMOG 44 (Feb. 28, 1989).

[top]