Director Kappos has posted an explanation relating to the USPTO's proposed ethics rules: USPTO Harmonizes Professional Conduct Rules. This proposal is a smart and overdue move that will better align the PTO rules with the ABA Model Rules adopted by 49 states and DC. I think the logic is unassailable: why should we have two sets of ethic rules governing patent attorney conduct?
For additional detail see the following: Proposed USPTO Rules of Professional Conduct for the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the ABA and USPTO rule comparison chart, and the ABA Model Rules and Comments.
These rules are open for public comment: ethicsrules.comments@uspto.gov until December 17, 2012.
Copyright © 2012 Robert Moll. All rights reserved.
