USPTO Ethics Investigation

Trademark Ethics: 5 Things That Might Keep You Up At Night

Emil Ali has been keeping very busy representing trademark practitioners in USPTO ethics investigations and disciplinary proceedings.  Next Thursday, May 12, Emil will be sharing his insights into the perilous ethical landscape faced by trademark counsel, in a live online webinar.  Every trademark practitioner should watch and learn from the mistakes others have made!  This […]

Trademark Ethics: 5 Things That Might Keep You Up At Night Read More »

USPTO Orders Six-Month Suspension For Patent Agent Who Lied To Client About Design App And Failed To Cooperate With OED

The USPTO has ordered a registered patent agent who allowed a patent application to go abandoned, failed to communicate with his client, and failed to cooperate with the Office of Enrollment and Discipline’s ethics investigation to serve a six-month license suspension and one-year probation.  This case presents a cautionary tale for IP practitioners and teaches

USPTO Orders Six-Month Suspension For Patent Agent Who Lied To Client About Design App And Failed To Cooperate With OED Read More »

Everything You Need to Know About Moral Character for the Patent Bar

You have passed the patent bar after months of hard work and studying the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure.  “[H]owever, you are not being registered at this time…” The letter goes on to explain that, because of your answers on the PTO FORM-158 (Application for Registration), the Director of the Office of Enrollment and Discipline

Everything You Need to Know About Moral Character for the Patent Bar Read More »

New IP Ethics CLE: A Look at the USPTO’s Focus on Declarations

On Monday, June 1, 2020, I will be moderating an ethics webinar panel discussion on behalf of the ABA’s Intellectual Property Law Section (for which I serve as Chair of the Ethics and Professional Responsibility Committee). The webinar is entitled “A Look at the USPTO’s Focus on Declarations” and will focus on ethics issues relating

New IP Ethics CLE: A Look at the USPTO’s Focus on Declarations Read More »

Avoiding USPTO Discipline: Five Recommendations for IP Practitioners

The USPTO’s Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) exists, in large part, to ensure that patent and trademark practitioner are practicing ethically and in accordance with the Office’s Rules of Professional Conduct.  The OED’s staff includes a dozen attorneys, many of whom have practical experience in the area of IP law.  Whether you have been

Avoiding USPTO Discipline: Five Recommendations for IP Practitioners Read More »

OED Launches Diversion Program As Alternative To Traditional Attorney Discipline

In a welcome response to the growing epidemic of drug and alcohol abuse among members of the legal profession, the Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) of the USPTO announced today it has initiated a new disciplinary diversion program that focuses on treatment rather than punishment.  The OED’s Diversion Program, which will initially begin as

OED Launches Diversion Program As Alternative To Traditional Attorney Discipline Read More »

Sue-And-Settle NPE Patent Litigation Tactics May Violate USPTO Ethics Rules

Non-practicing entities who engage in a pattern of filing numerous lawsuits without any intention of testing the merits, solely to extract low ball settlements, should take note that the USPTO’s Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) takes a keen interest in such conduct.  A recent “exceptional case” decision in a patent case from federal court

Sue-And-Settle NPE Patent Litigation Tactics May Violate USPTO Ethics Rules Read More »

PTO Suspends PTAB Atty Who Filed Multiple TM Apps For Cannabis Client

The USPTO has suspended a PTO-employed attorney for thirty (30) days for practicing trademark law before the Office for private clients, in violation of federal conflicts of interest laws.  See In re Tara K. Laux, Proc. No. D2016-39 (USPTO Dir. Mar. 9, 2017).  According to a settlement agreement reached with the OED Director, attorney Tara

PTO Suspends PTAB Atty Who Filed Multiple TM Apps For Cannabis Client Read More »

Scroll to Top