2011 US Code
Title 35 - Patents
Part II - PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS AND GRANT OF PATENTS (§§ 100 - 212)
Chapter 16 - DESIGNS (§§ 171 - 173)
Section 173 - Term of design patent

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Metadata
Publication TitleUnited States Code, 2006 Edition, Supplement 5, Title 35 - PATENTS
CategoryBills and Statutes
CollectionUnited States Code
SuDoc Class NumberY 1.2/5:
Contained WithinTitle 35 - PATENTS
PART II - PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS AND GRANT OF PATENTS
CHAPTER 16 - DESIGNS
Sec. 173 - Term of design patent
Containssection 173
Date2011
Laws in Effect as of DateJanuary 3, 2012
Positive LawYes
Dispositionstandard
Source CreditJuly 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 805; Pub. L. 97-247, §16, Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 321; Pub. L. 103-465, title V, §532(c)(3), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4987.
Statutes at Large References66 Stat. 805
96 Stat. 321
108 Stat. 4987
Public Law ReferencesPublic Law 97-247, Public Law 103-465

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35 USC § 173 (2011)
§173. Term of design patent

Patents for designs shall be granted for the term of fourteen years from the date of grant.

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 805; Pub. L. 97–247, §16, Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 321; Pub. L. 103–465, title V, §532(c)(3), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4987.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., §77 (R.S. 4931). Language is changed slightly.

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–465 inserted “from the date of grant” after “years”.

1982—Pub. L. 97–247 substituted “Patents for designs shall be granted for the term of fourteen years” for “Patents for designs may be granted for the term of three years and six months, or for seven years, or for fourteen years, as the applicant, in his application, elects”.

Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 103–465 effective 6 months after Dec. 8, 1994, and applicable to all patent applications filed in the United States on or after that effective date, with provisions relating to earliest filed patent application, see section 534(b)(1), (3) of Pub. L. 103–465, set out as a note under section 154 of this title.

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–247 effective Oct. 1, 1982, see section 17(a) of Pub. L. 97–247, set out as a note under section 41 of this title.

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