MPEP Section 1202, < Composition of Board
Executive summary:
This document contains Section 1202 ("< Composition of Board ") of the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (the "M.P.E.P."), Eighth Edition, Eighth Revision (July 2010). This page was last updated in January 2011. You may return to the section index to find a particular section. Alternatively, you may search the MPEP using the search box that appears on the left side of every page of BitLaw--you may restrict your search to the MPEP on the search results page.
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*>1202 < Composition of Board [R-3]
35 U.S.C. 6 provides for a Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences as follows:
35 U.S.C. 6 Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.
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(a) ESTABLISHMENT AND COMPOSITION.- There shall be in the United States Patent and Trademark Office a Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. The Director, the Deputy Commissioner, the Commissioner for Patents, the Commissioner for Trademarks, and the administrative patent judges shall constitute the Board. The administrative patent judges shall be persons of competent legal knowledge and scientific ability who are appointed by the Director.<
(b) DUTIES.- The Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences shall, on written appeal of an applicant, review adverse decisions of examiners upon applications for patents and shall determine priority and patentability of invention in interferences declared under section 135(a). Each appeal and interference shall be heard by at least three members of the Board, who shall be designated by the Director. Only the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences may grant rehearings.
**>The Office interprets the amendment to 35 U.S.C. 6(a) in Pub. L. 107-273, sec. 13203(a), "Deputy Commissioner" to refer to the Deputy Director. As provided by 37 CFR 41.2, "Board" means the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and includes:
(A) For a final Board action:
(1) In an appeal or contested case, a panel of the Board;
(2) In a proceeding under 37 CFR 41.3, the Chief Administrative Patent Judge or another official acting under an express delegation from the Chief Administrative Patent Judge.
(B) For non-final actions, a Board member or employee acting with the authority of the Board.
"Board member" means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Commissioner for Patents, the Commissioner for Trademarks, and the administrative patent judges.<
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