[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 37, Volume 1]
[Revised as of July 1, 2008]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 37CFR2.17]

[Page 241]
 
              TITLE 37--PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, AND COPYRIGHTS
 
  CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                                COMMERCE
 
PART 2_RULES OF PRACTICE IN TRADEMARK CASES--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 2.17  Recognition for representation.

    (a) When an attorney as defined in Sec. 10.1(c) of this chapter 
acting in a representative capacity appears in person or signs a 
document in practice before the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office in a trademark case, his or her personal appearance or signature 
shall constitute a representation to the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office that, under the provisions of Sec. 10.14 and the law, 
he or she is authorized to represent the particular party in whose 
behalf he or she acts. Further proof of authority to act in a 
representative capacity may be required.
    (b) Before any non-lawyer, as specified in Sec. 10.14(b) of this 
chapter, will be allowed to take action of any kind with respect to an 
application, registration or proceeding, a written authorization from 
the applicant, registrant, party to the proceeding, or other person 
entitled to prosecute such application or proceeding must be filed.
    (c) To be recognized as a representative, an attorney as defined in 
Sec. 10.1(c) of this chapter may file a power of attorney, appear in 
person, or sign a document on behalf of an applicant or registrant that 
is filed with the Office in a trademark case.
    (d) A party may file a power of attorney that relates to more than 
one trademark application or registration, or to all existing and future 
applications and registrations of that party. A party relying on such a 
power of attorney must:
    (1) Include a copy of the previously filed power of attorney; or
    (2) Refer to the power of attorney, specifying the filing date of 
the previously filed power of attorney; the application serial number 
(if known), registration number, or inter partes proceeding number for 
which the original power of attorney was filed; and the name of the 
party who signed the power of attorney; or, if the application serial 
number is not known, submit a copy of the application or a copy of the 
mark, and specify the filing date.

[30 FR 13193, Oct. 16, 1965, as amended at 50 FR 5171, Feb. 6, 1985; 64 
FR 48918, Sept. 8, 1999; 68 FR 55762, Sept. 26, 2003]