Patent Office Automated Interview Request

The Patent Office has started a new program called “AIR,” which stands for Automated Interview Request. The program allows patent attorneys, agents, and applicants to file online requests for interviews with Examiners in their cases. Examiners can sometimes be difficult to get hold of, as many of them work non-standard schedules or practice “hoteling,” in which they work from home. They rarely answer the phone, though most are very good about returning calls. The AIR program is designed to improve the communication between patent attorneys and examiners in scheduling interviews. One issue I see with the AIR form is that it does not allow the applicant or applicant’s representative to request an interview with the Examiner and his or her supervisor, which is often desired. For this, I presume one should still call to request the interview.

By submitting this type of interview request, the pending patent application will be in compliance with the written authorization requirement for Internet communication in accordance with MPEP §502.03. This authorization will be in effect until the Applicant provides a written withdrawal of authorization to the Examiner of record.