Boards and Counsel

Boards

The Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), are concerned with legal review of agency decisions. The Boards administratively report to Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Office of the General Counsel (OGC)

The Office of the General Counsel (OGC) is concerned with defense of agency decisions in court and administrative tribunals, internal agency legal advice, and regulation of persons practicing before the USPTO. The OGC consists of three organizations, which are:

Office of the Solicitor - represents USPTO in intellectual property matters

Office of General Law - represents USPTO in matters other than intellectual property

Office of Enrollment and Discipline (OED) - oversees registration and regulation of patent attorneys and agents

The OGC also manages the USPTO's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) program.

The OGC is headed by a General Counsel, who is responsible for overall management of the division and acts as the Under Secretary and Director’s principal legal advisor in assuring the provision of legal advice and representation for the agency. The General Counsel has also been delegated authority to hear appeals from decisions in enrollment and discipline matters, and to determine whether special circumstances exist pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 122 for releasing information concerning patent applications. The General Counsel for the United States Patent and Trademark Office is Bernard J. Knight, Jr..

General Counsel's Speaking Engagements

American Intellectual Property Law Association
Protection of Confidentiality in IP Advice – National and International Remedies
June 26-28, 2013, Paris, France
Global IP Dialog
Strategic Initiatives in USPTO to Optimize Patent Practice in a Global Marketplace
June 17, 2013, Palo Alto, CA
McDermott, Will, & Emery LLP IP Summit
IP Litigation Symposium
June 13, 2013, Chicago, IL
The Center for American and International Law
Advanced Practice under the America Invents Act
April 12, 2013 Dallas, TX
SMU Law School Annual IP Symposium
The Development of IP Law — The USPTO’s Positions in Supreme Court and Federal Circuit Cases and Implementation of America Invents Act Regulations
March 22, 2013, Dallas, TX
Corporate IP Counsel Forum
The America Invents Act – USPTO Views on Adapting to the New Legislative Landscape and the Critical Impact of IP on GDP and Job Growth
March 20, 2013, New York, NY
Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association
The Leahy Smith America Invents Act
March 12, 2013, Cleveland, OH
New York University (Henry Kaufman Management Center)
USPTO Roundtable on Enhancement of Quality of Software-Related Patents
February 27, 2013 – New York City, NY
Stanford University (Paul Brest Hall)
USPTO Roundtable on Enhancement of Quality of Software-Related Patents
February 12, 2013 – Stanford, CA

Please click here for an all-inclusive list of speaking engagements by year.

Positions of the USPTO

Service of Process

In order to serve a complaint, summons or Notice of Appeal on the United States Patent and Trademark Office ("USPTO") or on the Director of the USPTO or an employee in his or her official capacity you must serve as follows:

A. Any summons or complaint to be served in person or by registered or certified mail or as otherwise authorized by law on the Office to:

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:

Office of the General Counsel
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Madison Building East, Room 10B20
600 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314

The Office of the General Counsel may be reached by telephone at (571) 272-7000 during business hours.