Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-07
PAT E N T ATTORN EYS
An Important Order Issued by Commissioner
Butterworth Today.
Register to BE Kept and How At
torucys Can Have Their Names
Placed Upon Ii.

Commissioner of Patents Butterworth ha g
issued an important order, providing for
the registering of attorneys practicing be-
fore the United States patent office. with a
view to raising the character of such prac-
titioners as a whole. This is the most i'm
portant action for the purpose indicated
that has ever been attempted by a COM
missioner of patents, and 1t is in line with
the policy Commissioner Butterworth has
adopted of raising the tone of the patent
bar to the highest extent possible.
1t is likely that Commissioner Butter
worth will at the next session of Congress
ask legislation to authorize him to carry
out to their fullest extent his ideas of i'm
proving and controlling the class of attor-
neys that are allowed to practice before the
United States patent office. The new rule
Issued by him follows:
The Order Issued
Rule IL of the rules of practice, approved
June IS. 1897, is amended to real as fol-
lows:
IL. An applicant, or an assignee of the
entire interest, may prosecute his own case
but he is advised, unless familiar with such
matters to employ competent attorney,
as the value of patents depends largely
upon the skilful preparation Of the specifi-
cation and claims. The office cannot aid in
the selection of an attorney.
A register of attorneys viii be kept in
this office, on which will be entered the
names of all persons entitled TO represent
applicants before the patent office in the
presentation and prosecution of applica-
tiors for patent. The names of the fol-
lowing persons will, upon their written re-
quest, he entered upon this register:
(a) Any person who at the date of the
approval of the present rules of practice
June 1S, 1897, was engaged in the active
prosecution as attorney or agent of ap-
plicatons for patent before this office or
had been SO engaged at any time within
hVe years prior thereto and is not dis
barred, or is or was during such period a
member or a firm so engaged and not dis
barred, provided that such person shall, If
required, furnish Information as to one
or more applications for patent so prose-
cuted by him.
OBJ Any attorney at law who is in good
standing in any court of record in the
United States or any of the states or ter
ritorieS thereof and shall furnish a GER
uficate Of the clerk of the United States.
state or territorial court, duly authenti-
cated Under the seal of the court that he
is an attorr ey in good standing.
(c) Any person who has been regularly
recognized as an attorney or agent to rep
resent claimants before the Department
or the Interior, or any bureau thereof and
is in good standing, provided that such
person shall furnish a statement of the
ostte VI MS adffl5SlCn TO practlce as such
attorney or agent, and shall further show
If required by the commissioner that he is
possessed of the necessary qualifications to
render applicants for patents valuable
service, and is otherwise competent to ad-
wise and ASSIST them in the presentation and
prosecution of their applications before the
patent office.
td) Any persLn not an attorney-at-law
Who shall file certificate from Judge of
United States, state or territorial court
duly authenticated under the seal of the
court, that such person is of good moral
character and OF good repute and possessed
or the necessary qualifications to enable
MIN to rerder applicants for patents val
liable service. and is otherwise competent
to advise and assist them in the presenta-
uon and prosecution of their applications
before the patent office
(e) Any firr1 which, at the date of the
approval of the present rules of practice
was engaged in the active prosecution as
attorneys or agents of applications for pat
ents before the patent office or had been so
engaged at any time within five years prior
thereto. provided such firm or any member
thereof is not disbarred provided the
names Of the individuals composing the
firm are stated. and provided also that such
firm shall, if required, furnish information
as to one or more applications prosecuted
before the patent office by them.
Q Any firm not entitled to registration
under the preceding sections, who shall
show that the individuals composing the
firm are each and all recognized as patent
attorneys or agents. or are each and all
entitled to he recognized under the pre-
ceding sections of this rule.
The commissioner may demand addi-
uonal proof of qualifications, and reserves
the right to decline to recognize any at
ttrney, agent or other person applying for
registration under this rule.
Any person or firm not registered and not
Ell titled to be recognized under this rule as
an attorney or agent to represent claim
ants generally may, upon a showing of cir
crmStances which render it necessary or
justifiable, be recognized by the commits
Sforer tC prosecute attorney or agent a
certain specified application or applications
but this limited recognition shall not extend
further than the application or applications
named.
After January 1, 1885, no person not
registered in accordance with this rule will
be permitted to prosecute applications be-
fore the patent office.
BENZ. BUTTERWORTH.
Commissioner.
Approved:
(Siopedl TIJOS RYAN