The US Patent and Trademark Office told a group of specialized patent judges on Tuesday afternoon they could be expected to return to office as soon as Feb. 24, according to an attendee and several lawyers familiar with the call.
Some of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s 225 administrative judges participated in the call during which Chief Judge Scott Boalick answered questions about the planned directive, according to an attendee who sought anonymity for fear of retaliation. During the call, Boalick mentioned Feb. 24 as a target date, though an order might eventually reinforce the board’s return to office ...