[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: 37CFR41.56]

[Page 400]
 
              TITLE 37--PATENTS, TRADEMARKS, AND COPYRIGHTS
 
  CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF 
                                COMMERCE
 
PART 41_PRACTICE BEFORE THE BOARD OF PATENT APPEALS AND INTERFERENCES--Table of Contents
 
                       Subpart B_Ex Parte Appeals
 
Sec. 41.56  Sanctions.

    (a) Imposition of sanctions. The Chief Administrative Patent Judge 
or an expanded panel of the Board may impose a sanction against an 
appellant for misconduct, including:
    (1) Failure to comply with an order entered in the appeal or an 
applicable rule.
    (2) Advancing or maintaining a misleading or frivolous request for 
relief or argument.
    (3) Engaging in dilatory tactics.
    (b) Nature of sanction. Sanctions may include entry of:
    (1) An order declining to enter a docket notice.
    (2) An order holding certain facts to have been established in the 
appeal.
    (3) An order expunging a paper or precluding an appellant from 
filing a paper.
    (4) An order precluding an appellant from presenting or contesting a 
particular issue.
    (5) An order excluding evidence.
    (6) [Reserved]
    (7) An order holding an application on appeal to be abandoned or a 
reexamination proceeding terminated.
    (8) An order dismissing an appeal.
    (9) An order denying an oral hearing.
    (10) An order terminating an oral hearing.

[73 FR 32977, June 10, 2008]

    Effective Date Note: At 73 FR 32977, June 10, 2008, Sec. 41.56 was 
added, effective December 10, 2008.