U.S. Patent Act

Title 35 of United States Code 

PART I — UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

CHAPTER 1 —ESTABLISHMENT, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, FUNCTIONS

Sec.

  1. 1  Establishment.

  2. 2  Powers and duties.

  3. 3  Officers and employees.

  4. 4  Restrictions on officers and employees as to interest in patents.

  5. 5  Patent and Trademark Office Public Advisory Committees.

  6. 6  Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

  1. 6  (pre-AIA) Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.

  2. 7  Library.

  3. 8  Classification of patents.

  4. 9  Certified copies of records.

  5. 10  Publications.

  6. 11  Exchange of copies of patents and applications with foreign countries.

  7. 12  Copies of patents and applications for public libraries.

  8. 13  Annual report to Congress.

CHAPTER 2 —PROCEEDINGS IN THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

  1. 21  Filing date and day for taking action.

  2. 22  Printing of papers filed.

  3. 23  Testimony in Patent and Trademark Office cases.

  4. 24  Subpoenas, witnesses.

  5. 25  Declaration in lieu of oath.

  1. 26  Effect of defective execution.

  2. 27  Revival of applications; reinstatement of reexamination proceedings.

CHAPTER 3 —PRACTICE BEFORE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

L-1

April 2019

31 32 33

41 42

[Repealed]
Suspension or exclusion from practice. Unauthorized representation as practitioner.

CHAPTER 4 —PATENT FEES; FUNDING; SEARCH SYSTEMS

Patent fees; patent and trademark search systems.

Patent and Trademark Office funding.

United States Code Title 35 - Patents

PART II — PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS AND GRANT OF PATENTS

100
100
100
101
102
102

103 103

104 104 105

CHAPTER 10 —PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS

(note) AIA First inventor to file provisions. Definitions
(pre-AIA) Definitions.
Inventions patentable.

Conditions for patentability; novelty.

(pre-AIA) Conditions for patentability; novelty and loss of right to patent.

Conditions for patentability; non-obvious subject matter.

(pre-AIA) Conditions for patentability; non-obvious subject matter.

[Repealed]
(pre-AIA) Invention made abroad. Inventions in outer space.

CHAPTER 11 —APPLICATION FOR PATENT

111 Application.

111 (pre-PLT (AIA)) Application.

  1. 111  (pre-AIA) Application.

  2. 112  Specification.

  1. 112  (pre-AIA) Specification.

  2. 113  Drawings.

  3. 114  Models, specimens.

  4. 115  Inventor's oath or declaration.

  1. 115  (pre-AIA) Oath of applicant.

  2. 116  Inventors.

  1. 116  (pre-AIA) Inventors.

  2. 117  Death or incapacity of inventor.

  3. 118  Filing by other than inventor.

  1. 118  (pre-AIA) Filing by other than inventor.

  2. 119  Benefit of earlier filing date; right of priority.

  1. 119  (pre-AIA) Benefit of earlier filing date; right of priority.

  2. 120  Benefit of earlier filing date in the United States.

  1. 120  (pre-AIA) Benefit of earlier filing date in the United States.

  2. 121  Divisional applications.

  1. 121  (pre-AIA) Divisional applications.

  2. 122  Confidential status of applications; publication of patent applications.

  3. 123  Micro entity defined.

    CHAPTER 12 —EXAMINATION OF APPLICATION

  1. 131  Examination of application.

  2. 132  Notice of rejection; reexamination.

  3. 133  Time for prosecuting application.

  4. 134  Appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

134 (transitional) Appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.

  1. 134  (pre-AIA) Appeal to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.

  2. 135  Derivation proceedings.

135 (pre-AIA) Interferences.

CHAPTER 13 —REVIEW OF PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE DECISION

141 Appeal to Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

141 (pre-AIA) Appeal to Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

142 Notice of appeal.
143 Proceedings on appeal.
143 (pre-AIA) Proceedings on appeal.
144 Decision on appeal.
145 Civil action to obtain patent.
145 (pre-AIA) Civil action to obtain patent.
146 Civil action in case of derivation proceeding. 146 (pre-AIA) Civil action in case of interference.

CHAPTER 14 —ISSUE OF PATENT

151 Issue of patent.

152 Issue of patent to assignee.

153 How issued.

154 Contents and term of patent; provisional rights.

154 (pre-AIA) Contents and term of patent; provisional rights.

155 [Repealed.]
155A [Repealed.]
156 Extension of patent term.
157 [Repealed.]
157 (pre-AIA) Statutory invention registration.

CHAPTER 15 —PLANT PATENTS

161 Patents for plants.
162 Description, claim.
163 Grant.
164 Assistance of the Department of Agriculture.

CHAPTER 16 —DESIGNS

171 Patents for designs.
172 Right of priority.
172 (pre-AIA) Right of priority. 173 Term of design patent.

April 2019

L-2

MANUAL OF PATENT EXAMINING PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 17 —SECRECY OF CERTAIN INVENTIONS AND FILING APPLICATIONS IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES

  1. 181  Secrecy of certain inventions and withholding of patent.

  2. 182  Abandonment of invention for unauthorized disclosure.

  3. 183  Right to compensation.

  4. 184  Filing of application in foreign country.

  1. 184  (pre-AIA) Filing of application in foreign country.

  2. 185  Patent barred for filing without license.

  1. 185  (pre-AIA) Patent barred for filing without license.

  2. 186  Penalty.

  3. 187  Nonapplicability to certain persons.

  4. 188  Rules and regulations, delegation of power.

    CHAPTER 18 —PATENT RIGHTS IN INVENTIONS MADE WITH FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

  1. 200  Policy and objective.

  2. 201  Definitions.

  3. 202  Disposition of rights.

  1. 202  (pre-AIA) Disposition of rights.

  2. 203  March-in rights.

  3. 204  Preference for United States industry.

  4. 205  Confidentiality.

  5. 206  Uniform clauses and regulations.

  6. 207  Domestic and foreign protection of federally owned inventions.

  7. 208  Regulations governing Federal licensing.

  8. 209  Licensing federally owned inventions.

  9. 210  Precedence of chapter.

  10. 211  Relationship to antitrust laws.

  11. 212  Disposition of rights in educational awards.

    United States Code Title 35 - Patents

PART III — PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHTS

CHAPTER 25 —AMENDMENT AND CORRECTION OF PATENTS

251 Reissue of defective patents.

  1. 251  (pre-AIA) Reissue of defective patents.

  2. 252  Effect of reissue.

  3. 253  Disclaimer.

  1. 253  (pre-AIA) Disclaimer.

  2. 254  Certificate of correction of Patent and Trademark Office mistake.

  3. 255  Certificate of correction of applicant’s mistake.

  4. 256  Correction of named inventor.

  1. 256  (pre-AIA) Correction of named inventor.

  2. 257  Supplemental examinations to consider, reconsider, or correct information.

    CHAPTER 26 —OWNERSHIP AND ASSIGNMENT

  1. 261  Ownership; assignment.

  2. 262  Joint owners.

CHAPTER 27 —GOVERNMENT INTERESTS IN PATENTS

  1. 266  [Repealed.]

  2. 267  Time for taking action in Government applications.

CHAPTER 28 —INFRINGEMENT OF PATENTS

  1. 271  Infringement of patent.

  2. 272  Temporary presence in the United States.

  3. 273  Defense to infringement based on prior commercial use.

    CHAPTER 29 —REMEDIES FOR

INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT, AND OTHER ACTIONS

PATENT LAWS

L-3

April 2019

281
282
283
284
285
286

Remedy for infringement of patent. Presumption of validity; defenses. Injunction.
Damages.

Attorney fees.
Time limitation on damages.

  1. 287  Limitation on damages and other remedies; marking and notice.

  2. 288  Action for infringement of a patent containing an invalid claim.

  1. 288  (pre-AIA) Action for infringement of a patent containing an invalid claim.

  2. 289  Additional remedy for infringement of design patent.

  3. 290  Notice of patent suits.

  4. 291  Derived patents.

  1. 291  (pre-AIA) Interfering patents.

  2. 292  False marking.

  3. 293  Nonresident patentee; service and notice.

  4. 294  Voluntary arbitration.

  5. 295  Presumptions: Product made by patented process.

  6. 296  Liability of States, instrumentalities of States, and State officials for infringement of patents.

  7. 297  Improper and deceptive invention promotion.

  8. 298  Advice of counsel.

  9. 299  Joinder of parties.

CHAPTER 30 —PRIOR ART CITATIONS TO OFFICE AND EX PARTE REEXAMINATION OF PATENTS

  1. 301  Citation of prior art and written statements.

  2. 302  Request for reexamination.

  3. 303  Determination of issue by Director.

  4. 304  Reexamination order by Director.

  5. 305  Conduct of reexamination proceedings.

  1. 305  (pre-AIA) Conduct of reexamination proceedings.

  2. 306  Appeal.

  3. 307  Certificate of patentability, unpatentability, and claim cancellation.

CHAPTER 31 —INTER PARTES REVIEW

311 (note) Inter partes review applicability provisions.

  1. 311  Inter partes review.

  2. 312  Petitions.

  3. 313  Preliminary response to petition.

314 Institution of inter partes review.
315 Relation to other proceedings or actions. 316 Conduct of inter partes review.
317 Settlement.
318 Decision of the Board.
319 Appeal.

CHAPTER 31 (pre-AIA) — OPTIONAL INTER PARTES REEXAMINATION PROCEDURES

  1. 311  (pre-AIA) Request for inter partes reexamination.

  2. 312  (transitional) Determination of issue by Director.

  3. 313  (transitional) Inter partes reexamination order by Director.

  4. 314  (pre-AIA) Conduct of inter partes reexamination proceedings.

  5. 315  (pre-AIA) Appeal.

  6. 316  (pre-AIA) Certificate of patentability, unpatentability, and claim cancellation.

  7. 317  (pre-AIA) Inter partes reexamination prohibited.

  8. 318  (pre-AIA) Stay of litigation.
    CHAPTER 32 —POST-GRANT REVIEW

321 (note) Post-grant review applicability.

  1. 321  Post-grant review.

  2. 322  Petitions.

  3. 323  Preliminary response to petition.

  4. 324  Institution of post-grant review.

  5. 325  Relation to other proceedings or actions.

  6. 326  Conduct of post-grant review.

  7. 327  Settlement.

  8. 328  Decision of the Board.

  9. 329  Appeal.

    United States Code Title 35 - Patents

PART IV — PATENT COOPERATION TREATY CHAPTER 35 —DEFINITIONS

351 Definitions.

April 2019

L-4

MANUAL OF PATENT EXAMINING PROCEDURE

CHAPTER 36 —INTERNATIONAL STAGE

  1. 361  Receiving Office.

  2. 362  International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority.

  3. 363  International application designating the United States: Effect.

  1. 363  (pre-AIA) International application designating the United States: Effect.

  2. 364  International stage: Procedure.

  3. 365  Right of priority; benefit of the filing date of a prior application.

  4. 366  Withdrawn international application.

  5. 367  Actions of other authorities: Review.

  6. 368  Secrecy of certain inventions; filing international applications in foreign countries.

    CHAPTER 37 —NATIONAL STAGE

  1. 371  National stage: Commencement.

  2. 372  National stage: Requirements and procedure.

  3. 373  [Repealed]

  4. 374  Publication of international application: Effect.

  1. 374  (pre-AIA) Publication of international application: Effect.

  2. 375  Patent issued on international application: Effect.

  1. 375  (pre-AIA) Patent issued on international application: Effect.

  2. 376  Fees.

    United States Code Title 35 - Patents

    PART V — THE HAGUE AGREEMENT CONCERNING INTERNATIONAL

REGISTRATION OF INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS

CHAPTER 38 —INTERNATIONAL DESIGN APPLICATIONS

  1. 381  Definitions.

  2. 382  Filing international design applications.

  3. 383  International design application.

  4. 384  Filing date.

  5. 385  Effect of international design application.

  6. 386  Right of priority.

  1. 387  Relief from prescribed time limits.

  2. 388  Withdrawn or abandoned international design application.

  3. 389  Examination of international design application.

  4. 390  Publication of international design application.

SELECTED PROVISIONS OF OTHER TITLES OF THE UNITED STATES CODE SELECT PROVISIONS OF TITLE 18, UNITED STATES CODE

PATENT LAWS

L-5

April 2019

18 18

U.S.C. 1001 Statements or entries generally.

U.S.C. 2071 Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally.

UNCODIFIED LAW

SELECT UNCODIFIED AIA PROVISIONS

AIA § 14 Tax strategies deemed within the prior art.

AIA §18Transitionalprogramforcoveredbusiness method patents.

AIA § 33 Limitation on issuance of patents.

United States Code Title 35 - Patents

PART I — UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

CHAPTER 1 — ESTABLISHMENT, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, FUNCTIONS

Sec. 1
2
3

4 5

6 6

7 8 9

Establishment.
Powers and duties.
Officers and employees.
Restrictions on officers and employees as to interest in patents.
Patent and Trademark Office Public Advisory Committees.
Patent Trial and Appeal Board. (pre-AIA) Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.
Library.
Classification of patents.
Certified copies of records.

§ 1

MANUAL OF PATENT EXAMINING PROCEDURE

10 11

12

13

Publications.
Exchange of copies of patents and applications with foreign countries. Copies of patents and applications for public libraries.
Annual report to Congress.