US Laws, Codes, Statutes & Cases

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 17USC1311]

 
                          TITLE 17--COPYRIGHTS
 
               CHAPTER 13--PROTECTION OF ORIGINAL DESIGNS
 
Sec. 1311. Benefit of earlier filing date in foreign country

    An application for registration of a design filed in the United 
States by any person who has, or whose legal representative or 
predecessor or successor in title has, previously filed an application 
for registration of the same design in a foreign country which extends 
to designs of owners who are citizens of the United States, or to 
applications filed under this chapter, similar protection to that 
provided under this chapter shall have that same effect as if filed in 
the United States on the date on which the application was first filed 
in such foreign country, if the application in the United States is 
filed within 6 months after the earliest date on which any such foreign 
application was filed.

(Added Pub. L. 105-304, title V, Sec. 502, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 
2910.)