1.This Act may be cited as the
Patent Law Treaties Implementation Act
of 2012
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Hague
Agreement concerning international registration of industrial designs</header>
<section id="H96752435E3684910AF44F6849E6EF827"><enum>101.</enum><header>The Hague
Agreement concerning international registration of industrial designs</header>
<subsection id="H16504036EF004785A168380FA81B85FE"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Title 35, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE37B950A9BF042E782A4E42A2F5FAACA" style="USC">
<part id="HB1F3DC93B3584F54AB0F276A994CA040"><enum>V</enum><header>The
Hague Agreement concerning international registration of industrial
designs</header>
<toc>
<multi-column-toc-entry level="chapter"><toc-enum>CHAPTER
</toc-enum><level-header level="chapter"></level-header><target>Sec.</target>
</multi-column-toc-entry>
<multi-column-toc-entry idref="H439BB9333CD8459A9D67049A6CB466C5" level="chapter"><toc-enum>38. </toc-enum><level-header level="chapter">International design
applications</level-header><target>381.</target>
</multi-column-toc-entry>
</toc>
<chapter id="H439BB9333CD8459A9D67049A6CB466C5"><enum>38</enum><header>International
design applications</header>
<toc>
<toc-entry level="section">Sec. </toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H3979E9B70F9243C9B15E2E569FF0DA3E" level="section">381. Definitions.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HA0FE40F1EF8449F782D64954B893B88C" level="section">382. Filing international design applications.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HA5E916009CA447FAB98548E3C250FDF9" level="section">383. International design application.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HFAE123C214454157AB992B817A66590E" level="section">384. Filing date.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H5BAE260613A24F14A746B2196915F142" level="section">385. Effect of international design application.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H00E79EE5A7DE4AC385EF755F8551761C" level="section">386. Right of priority.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="HA4BAE1FA4726416D93BED280495F16A2" level="section">387. Relief from prescribed time limits.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H879F6DB124054F1B946C9E78A5B8C46B" level="section">388. Withdrawn or abandoned international design
application.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H2D2C1DD0C2C94567B4C03959946987FD" level="section">389. Examination of international design
application.</toc-entry>
<toc-entry idref="H202CCF9CC0D54DB6B8FD739E32A92660" level="section">390. Publication of international design
application.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<section id="H3979E9B70F9243C9B15E2E569FF0DA3E"><enum>381.</enum><header>Definitions</header>
<subsection id="HD8EBDE7197CA47319F6DC343DAD4D919"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">When used in this
part, unless the context otherwise indicates—</text>
<paragraph id="HEF593094A94C4546A0E6F8D044E95540"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the term
<term>treaty</term> means the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the
International Registration of Industrial Designs adopted at Geneva on July 2,
1999;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H64CF9CBE4C22455F99F694471147BB8B"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term
<term>regulations</term>—</text>
<subparagraph id="H47CDA5C3DF444C969C0D7BA3B36D418E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>when capitalized,
means the Common Regulations under the treaty; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H8DD2464AEA3641598AEFD0563291C5D0"><enum>(B)</enum><text>when not
capitalized, means the regulations established by the Director under this
title;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6D7F813230D84F9A93554DEB0B186F64"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the terms
<term>designation</term>, <term>designating</term>, and <term>designate</term>
refer to a request that an international registration have effect in a
Contracting Party to the treaty;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBEDC18A3D336484982D5CE16027519FC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>the term
<term>International Bureau</term> means the international intergovernmental
organization that is recognized as the coordinating body under the treaty and
the Regulations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H84D9E346F1BC4CB593D9ECCDB5063A35"><enum>(5)</enum><text>the term
<term>effective registration date</term> means the date of international
registration determined by the International Bureau under the treaty;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDF8B2FA12F98446DA96E5D1EA3455F3E"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the term
<term>international design application</term> means an application for
international registration; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H921A7A0D9865460491D9966E64237E1C"><enum>(7)</enum><text>the term
<term>international registration</term> means the international registration of
an industrial design filed under the treaty.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HBBD1E8A212234434ABC021CF96FD5B6A"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Rule of
construction</header><text>Terms and expressions not defined in this part are
to be taken in the sense indicated by the treaty and the Regulations.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HA0FE40F1EF8449F782D64954B893B88C"><enum>382.</enum><header>Filing
international design applications</header>
<subsection id="HFC014909E3D1432AA2B48955A0388983"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Any person who is a national of the United States, or has
a domicile, a habitual residence, or a real and effective industrial or
commercial establishment in the United States, may file an international design
application by submitting to the Patent and Trademark Office an application in
such form, together with such fees, as may be prescribed by the
Director.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3A1A488D354849AA9892450FD33EB752"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Required
action</header><text>The Patent and Trademark Office shall perform all acts
connected with the discharge of its duties under the treaty, including the
collection of international fees and transmittal thereof to the International
Bureau. Subject to chapter 17, international design applications shall be
forwarded by the Patent and Trademark Office to the International Bureau, upon
payment of a transmittal fee.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HA42EB54FFC99428ABE1B15C608BA51AA"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Applicability of
chapter 16</header><text>Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the
provisions of chapter 16 shall apply.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HCFF00394655E4C72B074966907811746"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Application
filed in another country</header><text>An international design application on
an industrial design made in this country shall be considered to constitute the
filing of an application in a foreign country within the meaning of chapter 17
if the international design application is filed—</text>
<paragraph id="H23A08C3F733F44DC816F96B6CCE8F766"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in a country other
than the United States;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3145F8DC582C4FA5A9119E067378B80F"><enum>(2)</enum><text>at the
International Bureau; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFEEA71C2364546AA9E1DF0BF2BF019E7"><enum>(3)</enum><text>with an
intergovernmental organization.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HA5E916009CA447FAB98548E3C250FDF9"><enum>383.</enum><header>International
design application</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In addition
to any requirements pursuant to chapter 16, the international design
application shall contain—</text>
<paragraph id="H49715D787EAC4611BD2AE98F840D3274"><enum>(1)</enum><text>a request for
international registration under the treaty;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HE737BC67CD1A4F80B3FC5634537EC9D0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>an indication of
the designated Contracting Parties;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7F020468C8BE40C583079220F2064EA1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>data concerning
the applicant as prescribed in the treaty and the Regulations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HBAF27D6E0C84433FA9A004F83083A232"><enum>(4)</enum><text>copies of a
reproduction or, at the choice of the applicant, of several different
reproductions of the industrial design that is the subject of the international
design application, presented in the number and manner prescribed in the treaty
and the Regulations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H1178D71EF4B14641BB620BFD15201D5D"><enum>(5)</enum><text>an indication of
the product or products that constitute the industrial design or in relation to
which the industrial design is to be used, as prescribed in the treaty and the
Regulations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HC56A7D8BF9F4487AB866022947158476"><enum>(6)</enum><text>the fees
prescribed in the treaty and the Regulations; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H620EA917E0034139B5CA6C1405BC7F38"><enum>(7)</enum><text>any other
particulars prescribed in the Regulations.</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HFAE123C214454157AB992B817A66590E"><enum>384.</enum><header>Filing
date</header>
<subsection id="HA6B68B860EBA46A396651C80F1573063"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to subsection (b), the filing date of an
international design application in the United States shall be the effective
registration date. Notwithstanding the provisions of this part, any
international design application designating the United States that otherwise
meets the requirements of chapter 16 may be treated as a design application
under chapter 16.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H59C119F0B2534BDCAEC069E3E121BDAF"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Review</header><text>An
applicant may request review by the Director of the filing date of the
international design application in the United States. The Director may
determine that the filing date of the international design application in the
United States is a date other than the effective registration date. The
Director may establish procedures, including the payment of a surcharge, to
review the filing date under this section. Such review may result in a
determination that the application has a filing date in the United States other
than the effective registration date.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H5BAE260613A24F14A746B2196915F142"><enum>385.</enum><header>Effect of
international design application</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">An international design application
designating the United States shall have the effect, for all purposes, from its
filing date determined in accordance with section 384, of an application for
patent filed in the Patent and Trademark Office pursuant to chapter 16.</text>
</section><section id="H00E79EE5A7DE4AC385EF755F8551761C"><enum>386.</enum><header>Right of
priority</header>
<subsection id="H33FE55F5217C45BFB4B5FD9A26FE8C14"><enum>(a)</enum><header>National
application</header><text>In accordance with the conditions and requirements of
subsections (a) through (d) of section 119 and section 172, a national
application shall be entitled to the right of priority based on a prior
international design application that designated at least 1 country other than
the United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HDAB4BCAFC94A4626988B9CB0C0B93D22"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Prior foreign
application</header><text>In accordance with the conditions and requirements of
subsections (a) through (d) of section 119 and section 172 and the treaty and
the Regulations, an international design application designating the United
States shall be entitled to the right of priority based on a prior foreign
application, a prior international application as defined in section 351(c)
designating at least 1 country other than the United States, or a prior
international design application designating at least 1 country other than the
United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H495953F0C0E84F89A073D0861FC61E51"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Prior national
application</header><text>In accordance with the conditions and requirements of
section 120, an international design application designating the United States
shall be entitled to the benefit of the filing date of a prior national
application, a prior international application as defined in section 351(c)
designating the United States, or a prior international design application
designating the United States, and a national application shall be entitled to
the benefit of the filing date of a prior international design application
designating the United States. If any claim for the benefit of an earlier
filing date is based on a prior international application as defined in section
351(c) which designated but did not originate in the United States or a prior
international design application which designated but did not originate in the
United States, the Director may require the filing in the Patent and Trademark
Office of a certified copy of such application together with a translation
thereof into the English language, if it was filed in another language.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HA4BAE1FA4726416D93BED280495F16A2"><enum>387.</enum><header>Relief from
prescribed time limits</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">An
applicant's failure to act within prescribed time limits in connection with
requirements pertaining to an international design application may be excused
as to the United States upon a showing satisfactory to the Director of
unintentional delay and under such conditions, including a requirement for
payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7), as may be prescribed by the
Director.</text>
</section><section id="H879F6DB124054F1B946C9E78A5B8C46B"><enum>388.</enum><header>Withdrawn or
abandoned international design application</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Subject to sections 384 and 387, if an
international design application designating the United States is withdrawn,
renounced or canceled or considered withdrawn or abandoned, either generally or
as to the United States, under the conditions of the treaty and the
Regulations, the designation of the United States shall have no effect after
the date of withdrawal, renunciation, cancellation, or abandonment and shall be
considered as not having been made, unless a claim for benefit of a prior
filing date under section 386(c) was made in a national application, or an
international design application designating the United States, or a claim for
benefit under section 365(c) was made in an international application
designating the United States, filed before the date of such withdrawal,
renunciation, cancellation, or abandonment. However, such withdrawn, renounced,
canceled, or abandoned international design application may serve as the basis
for a claim of priority under subsections (a) and (b) of section 386, or under
subsection (a) or (b) of section 365, if it designated a country other than the
United States.</text>
</section><section id="H2D2C1DD0C2C94567B4C03959946987FD"><enum>389.</enum><header>Examination of
international design application</header>
<subsection id="HC5C63E1836DF45A79BE72E87F6C79CC2"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Director shall cause an examination to be made
pursuant to this title of an international design application designating the
United States.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF968B9DF1D9B4B79ADCE9C7104DDA65D"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability of
chapter 16</header><text>All questions of substance and, unless otherwise
required by the treaty and Regulations, procedures regarding an international
design application designating the United States shall be determined as in the
case of applications filed under chapter 16.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H7C1D80ABD7494C5CA169BF814ECC5D04"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Fees</header><text>The
Director may prescribe fees for filing international design applications, for
designating the United States, and for any other processing, services, or
materials relating to international design applications, and may provide for
later payment of such fees, including surcharges for later submission of
fees.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HBB71549CAD674E8AAACCFE2FE6CF0276"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Issuance of
patent</header><text>The Director may issue a patent based on an international
design application designating the United States, in accordance with the
provisions of this title. Such patent shall have the force and effect of a
patent issued on an application filed under chapter 16.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H202CCF9CC0D54DB6B8FD739E32A92660"><enum>390.</enum><header>Publication of
international design application</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The publication under the treaty of an
international design application designating the United States shall be deemed
a publication under section
122(b).</text>
</section></chapter></part><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="HE9D5F170CD18456D8B8E1ACC74DD9943"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>The table of parts at the beginning of title 35, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HE24278F85CA04869B8808939F588621E" style="OLC">
<toc>
<multi-column-toc-entry bold="off" level="section"><toc-enum>V.
</toc-enum><level-header level="section">The Hague Agreement concerning
international registration of industrial
designs</level-header><target>401.</target></multi-column-toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="HC651999824614B5B91401882336E2780"><enum>102.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Title 35, United
States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H9BDB6B760F0E43139D22F182BDE5F43B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section
100(i)(1)(B) (as amended by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Public Law
112–29; 125 Stat. 284)), by striking <quote>right of priority under section
119, 365(a), or 365(b) or to the benefit of an earlier filing date under
section 120, 121, or 365(c)</quote> and inserting <quote>right of priority
under section 119, 365(a), 365(b), 386(a), or 386(b) or to the benefit of an
earlier filing date under section 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7054318EACAA45F391D1958F82CA8DC1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section
102(d)(2) (as amended by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Public Law
112–29; 125 Stat. 284)), by striking <quote>to claim a right of priority under
section 119, 365(a), or 365(b), or to claim the benefit of an earlier filing
date under section 120, 121, or 365(c)</quote> and inserting <quote>to claim a
right of priority under section 119, 365(a), 365(b), 386(a), or 386(b), or to
claim the benefit of an earlier filing date under section 120, 121, 365(c), or
386(c)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H24D42F8616DD47858C77264B7D603349"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section
111(b)(7)—</text>
<subparagraph id="H075E0B25CAF8424CBD775259A79611FB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>section 119 or 365(a)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 119, 365(a),
or 386(a) </quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC6F4E121D9B7496ABD0E7A66C69E7867"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>section 120, 121, or 365(c)</quote> and inserting <quote>section 120,
121, 365(c), or 386(c)</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H600EDB7E64A24133A8CDECD0C799416C"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section
115(g)(1) (as amended by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (Public Law
112–29; 125 Stat. 284)), by striking <quote>section 120, 121, or 365(c)</quote>
and inserting <quote>section 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H4E28DA56999E4CBC9FC30DDF61EE0AC3"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 120, in
the first sentence, by striking <quote>section 363</quote> and inserting
<quote>section 363 or 385</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H122DF6429A3347C6875C484FF7C6AFA7"><enum>(6)</enum><text>in section
154—</text>
<subparagraph id="H9C28E3887BCE4EE193AF2FE6CE103510"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<clause id="H1F1763E7562242909DD60E5F1E5FED4F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
paragraph (2), by striking <quote>section 120, 121, or 365(c)</quote> and
inserting <quote>section 120, 121, 365(c), or 386(c)</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="H211D225BF4A84D9DADCCDEC63E32E898"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
paragraph (3), by striking <quote>section 119, 365(a), or 365(b)</quote> and
inserting <quote>section 119, 365(a), 365(b), 386(a), or 386(b)</quote>;
and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC46D13CD40864710B07D2056FBB2ADE1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection
(d)(1), by inserting <quote>or an international design application filed under
the treaty defined in section 381(a)(1) designating the United States under
Article 5 of such treaty</quote> after <quote>Article 21(2)(a) of such
treaty</quote>;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF98B5796D6B3431F8CFF63E858BAB7F7"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in section 173, by
striking <quote>fourteen years</quote> and inserting <quote>15
years</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HDB29DA0BE3DF49CFB80037DEB9D5470C"><enum>(8)</enum><text>in section
365(c)—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" id="H9C017786159D4EE78786488B04145830"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the first
sentence, by striking <quote>or a prior international application designating
the United States</quote> and inserting <quote>, a prior international
application designating the United States, or a prior international design
application as defined in section 381(a)(6) designating the United
States</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HA660B5D8C8C245FE805D45E7A360610A"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in the second
sentence, by inserting <quote>or a prior international design application as
defined in section 381(a)(6) which designated but did not originate in the
United States</quote> after <quote>did not originate in the United
States</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF7436DE740DF4A07A517F1E0AFA8EA83"><enum>(9)</enum><text>in section
366—</text>
<subparagraph id="HF80DEA331D1A4C2E94CEE21E013B583B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in the first
sentence, by striking <quote>unless a claim</quote> and all that follows
through <quote>withdrawal.</quote> and inserting <quote>unless a claim for
benefit of a prior filing date under section 365(c) of this section was made in
a national application, or an international application designating the United
States, or a claim for benefit under section 386(c) was made in an
international design application designating the United States, filed before
the date of such withdrawal.</quote>; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HC46C8BBE89C346DAA7AD999B2FC94B7F"><enum>(B)</enum><text>by striking the
second sentence and inserting the following: <quote>However, such withdrawn
international application may serve as the basis for a claim of priority under
section 365 (a) and (b), or under section 386 (a) or (b), if it designated a
country other than the United States.</quote>.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><section id="H8EEBD4417C764D0D9388017C390E9C82"><enum>103.</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<subsection id="H49A8D3FF16B14C2A8A446773C53869E0"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The amendments made by this title shall take effect on
the later of—</text>
<paragraph id="HAE51FD42A32A459A847F535EA1CBA16D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the date that is 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8B5A49F72325449B9F8168185EB8EA18"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the date of entry
into force of the treaty with respect to the United States.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HFD2617670F38431CA7DD088999709E84"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Applicability of
amendments</header>
<paragraph id="H84243899EE244E539519CEA4C75431A6"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Subject to paragraph (2), the amendments made by this
title shall apply only to international design applications, international
applications, and national applications filed on and after the effective date
set forth in subsection (a), and patents issuing thereon.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H091DD2ED3E7D4076A8082C1F2E034FFC"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Exception</header><text>Sections
100(i) and 102(d) of title 35, United States Code, as amended by this title,
shall not apply to an application, or any patent issuing thereon, unless it is
described in section 3(n)(1) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (35 U.S.C.
100 note).</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HE2DAAC9F81BD427F81EA251F545842BF"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Definitions</header><text>For
purposes of this section—</text>
<paragraph id="HA78D1B3DD6D04BCE9B747C708A25C5D3"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the terms
<term>treaty</term> and <term>international design application</term> have the
meanings given those terms in section 381 of title 35, United States Code, as
added by this title;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H877FCAE8B5D04E6DBDF0F024175F54AB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the term
<term>international application</term> has the meaning given that term in
section 351(c) of title 35, United States Code; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB4DE589DC70642CA8AC7879AF59DCAC6"><enum>(3)</enum><text>the term
<term>national application</term> means <quote>national application</quote>
within the meaning of chapter 38 of title 35, United States Code, as added by
this title.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><enum>II</enum><header>Patent Law Treaty
implementation</header>
<section id="H2053ADD06DBF4F048F56F5B7D6270D06"><enum>201.</enum><header>Provisions to
implement the Patent Law Treaty</header>
<subsection id="H518AF2C03332428DBAE4F9C9E3BEBE94"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Application
filing date</header><text>Section 111 of title 35, United States Code, is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HDE860D5DC3204D8A9F77F2337163C3A2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in subsection (a),
by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0B30FD090CF042A2891C7B50C01AA923" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2AEA76FF11364C479424953CFA6C0CA0"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Fee, oath or
declaration, and claims</header><text>The application shall be accompanied by
the fee required by law. The fee, oath or declaration, and 1 or more claims may
be submitted after the filing date of the application, within such period and
under such conditions, including the payment of a surcharge, as may be
prescribed by the Director. Upon failure to submit the fee, oath or
declaration, and 1 or more claims within such prescribed period, the
application shall be regarded as abandoned.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H81F67855155F4A048911C85659F9A413"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Filing
date</header><text>The filing date of an application shall be the date on which
a specification, with or without claims, is received in the United States
Patent and Trademark
Office.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8C3F380232F44D3E8F87F963D63A13CB"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in subsection (b),
by striking paragraphs (3) and (4) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2B63947B0EFB46BBB269F1C1CEF55E60" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H71540362EA784BC18FC465EFE7091897"><enum>(3)</enum><header>Fee</header><text>The
application shall be accompanied by the fee required by law. The fee may be
submitted after the filing date of the application, within such period and
under such conditions, including the payment of a surcharge, as may be
prescribed by the Director. Upon failure to submit the fee within such
prescribed period, the application shall be regarded as abandoned.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H54BAFDAA6FB84FFFB1D47C6996CB3B7C"><enum>(4)</enum><header>Filing
date</header><text>The filing date of a provisional application shall be the
date on which a specification, with or without claims, is received in the
United States Patent and Trademark
Office.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H948951E554D34CE1AFAC47484D3ADBE1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF51618BDE9E6475585C258DAFF6FC275" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H695AAED8A69048F3A001A2C515249A22"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Prior filed
application</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding
the provisions of subsection (a), the Director may prescribe the conditions,
including the payment of a surcharge, under which a reference made upon the
filing of an application under subsection (a) to a previously filed
application, specifying the previously filed application by application number
and the intellectual property authority or country in which the application was
filed, shall constitute the specification and any drawings of the subsequent
application for purposes of a filing date. A copy of the specification and any
drawings of the previously filed application shall be submitted within such
period and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Director. A
failure to submit the copy of the specification and any drawings of the
previously filed application within the prescribed period shall result in the
application being regarded as abandoned. Such application shall be treated as
having never been filed, unless—</text>
<paragraph id="HDEA2BBFE2AB344F69E5C8D16DB0FFB76"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the application is
revived under section 27; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HA854C913B6A44256A67B54D812A573A4"><enum>(2)</enum><text>a copy of the
specification and any drawings of the previously filed application are
submitted to the
Director.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H67D02DC962B748FC95D2B2B9F7291233"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Relief in
respect of time limits and reinstatement of rights</header>
<paragraph id="H6E30BB1DA528446083D4FCDFE57F8C7D"><enum>(1)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Chapter 2 of title 35, United States Code, is amended by
adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H0088CADDCC9747958F07604FB829C885" style="USC">
<section id="H8E87DEE9F2DB4E23B500EE393277A512"><enum>27.</enum><header>Revival of
applications; reinstatement of reexamination proceedings</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Director may establish procedures,
including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7),
to revive an unintentionally abandoned application for patent, accept an
unintentionally delayed payment of the fee for issuing each patent, or accept
an unintentionally delayed response by the patent owner in a reexamination
proceeding, upon petition by the applicant for patent or patent
owner.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0BCC54E9F3F640829A2BA52A6E32F05F"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Conforming
amendment</header><text>The table of sections for chapter 2 of title 35, United
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HFADA04DBAF9B43A9BDCA43553AC7ABDF" style="USC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">27. Revival of applications;
reinstatement of reexamination
proceedings.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H20999831815F4382B8B5BF7D8DE0B7DC"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Restoration of
priority right</header><text>Title 35, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H5C045111C87448C4B7D1234A34E530C2"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section
119—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC026B3995E47471FAA083D9EF4D18ACB"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection
(a)—</text>
<clause id="H2E5EDAF6AC3A4AE1958B92B6A3420AEA"><enum>(i)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>twelve</quote> and inserting <quote>12</quote>; and</text>
</clause><clause id="HB9E3AB5C15064BA9AE49E4507678E06B"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>by
adding at the end the following: “The Director may prescribe regulations,
including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7),
pursuant to which the 12-month period set forth in this subsection may be
extended by an additional 2 months if the delay in filing the application in
this country within the 12-month period was unintentional.”; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="H3725997F48BC4B46ABF6B139A26D095D"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection
(e)—</text>
<clause id="H1B77A3817AC64DA0A8AE2C7D5702648F"><enum>(i)</enum><text>in
paragraph (1)—</text>
<subclause id="H32E9F84CBF7A4ECFA02F5C351B1C2574"><enum>(I)</enum><text>by inserting after
the first sentence the following: “The Director may prescribe regulations,
including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7),
pursuant to which the 12-month period set forth in this subsection may be
extended by an additional 2 months if the delay in filing the application under
section 111(a) or section 363 within the 12-month period was unintentional.”;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause id="H7CB68FC5354A43CEA3B5BFE2195C75BC"><enum>(II)</enum><text>in the last
sentence—</text>
<item id="H688283A787804EC79E8B4E784FEA1713"><enum>(aa)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>including the payment of a surcharge</quote> and inserting
<quote>including the payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7)</quote>;
and</text>
</item><item id="HBB294C576D3C49D1B8ABD7671A469CC7"><enum>(bb)</enum><text>by
striking <quote>during the pendency of the application</quote>; and</text>
</item></subclause></clause><clause id="H353B2407D4994F75AF6DF5E73EE68609"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>in
paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: <quote>For an application
for patent filed under section 363 in a Receiving Office other than the Patent
and Trademark Office, the 12-month and additional 2-month period set forth in
this subsection shall be extended as provided under the treaty and Regulations
as defined in section 351.</quote>; and</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H986BA95B74394AEDB8614CCCDA33DA22"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section 365(b),
by adding at the end the following: “The Director may establish procedures,
including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7),
to accept an unintentionally delayed claim for priority under the treaty and
the Regulations, and to accept a priority claim that pertains to an application
that was not filed within the priority period specified in the treaty and
Regulations, but was filed within the additional 2-month period specified under
section 119(a) or the treaty and Regulations.”.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H842EC6EEC98A4276B3243360EE15BFBB"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Recordation of
ownership interests</header><text>Section 261 of title 35, United States Code,
is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="H5890E3A7FC41488686F28A8046684377"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in the first
undesignated paragraph by adding at the end the following: “The Patent and
Trademark Office shall maintain a register of interests in patents and
applications for patents and shall record any document related thereto upon
request, and may require a fee therefor.”; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HF1C5567C11384B559982FD6BB1065FE0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in the fourth
undesignated paragraph by striking <quote>An assignment</quote> and inserting
<quote>An interest that constitutes an assignment</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="HBBEBD4AC7F574F7F978D5B05047E7EE3"><enum>202.</enum><header>Conforming
amendments</header>
<subsection id="H2D20D28226F145E29B753BA426093C22"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>Section 171 of title 35, United States Code, is
amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HE6CFFC9BDEDC4A16AC0B8865808E7773"><enum>(1)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>Whoever</quote> and inserting <quote>(a)
<header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">In
general</header-in-text>.—Whoever</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8044FBD2BCB04E0D8F3FC03334AE2950"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by striking
<quote>The provisions</quote> and inserting <quote>(b)
<header-in-text level="subsection" style="OLC">Applicability of this
title</header-in-text>.—The provisions</quote>; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCC8AACBB14C448109886AA60DDE0CD45"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H227F8C39DB4040F7AF709CF08A621C64" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HE7E24D68CA17465E849967DE91D212AB"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Filing
date</header><text>The filing date of an application for patent for design
shall be the date on which the specification as prescribed by section 112 and
any required drawings are
filed.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H991FB74646684822871484929731602F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Relief in
respect of time limits and reinstatement of right</header><text>Title 35,
United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="HE7B7B4A41E194B699AD1DA63978829D0"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in section
41—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6F343C7D226643FA8861894EB49B28D3"><enum>(A)</enum><text>in subsection (a),
by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H74F4DCB2D40B4AB3A95BDBE625926D1D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H2DEC1B59BD5D437E97EF9EE5E0F084B5"><enum>(7)</enum><header>Revival
fees</header><text>On filing each petition for the revival of an abandoned
application for a patent, for the delayed payment of the fee for issuing each
patent, for the delayed response by the patent owner in any reexamination
proceeding, for the delayed payment of the fee for maintaining a patent in
force, for the delayed submission of a priority or benefit claim, or for the
extension of the 12-month period for filing a subsequent application,
$1,700.00. The Director may refund any part of the fee specified in this
paragraph, in exceptional circumstances as determined by the
Director</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HCF19102C80C44C6DB9F4A5BA5A73F552"><enum>(B)</enum><text>in subsection (c),
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HF585EA06636644029B127FB963F6DC4E" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="H0175649842FE48EEA891C210A7230B2E"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Acceptance</header><text>The
Director may accept the payment of any maintenance fee required by subsection
(b) after the 6-month grace period if the delay is shown to the satisfaction of
the Director to have been unintentional. The Director may require the payment
of the fee specified in subsection (a)(7) as a condition of accepting payment
of any maintenance fee after the 6-month grace period. If the Director accepts
payment of a maintenance fee after the 6-month grace period, the patent shall
be considered as not having expired at the end of the grace
period.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H2DC26D648AE64DBBBB868F26C3044226"><enum>(2)</enum><text>in section
119(b)(2), in the second sentence, by striking <quote>including the payment of
a surcharge</quote> and inserting <quote>including the requirement for payment
of the fee specified in section 41(a)(7)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H7F1294E83E11494C9A1994362B61F4E4"><enum>(3)</enum><text>in section 120, in
the fourth sentence, by striking <quote>including the payment of a
surcharge</quote> and inserting <quote>including the requirement for payment of
the fee specified in section 41(a)(7)</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H374A5E34D3584C0FBF11723FA62D5298"><enum>(4)</enum><text>in section
122(b)(2)(B)(iii), in the second sentence, by striking <quote>, unless it is
shown</quote> and all that follows through <quote>unintentional</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAF42A36264074185B6588AC40D88D899"><enum>(5)</enum><text>in section 133, by
striking <quote>, unless it be shown</quote> and all that follows through
<quote>unavoidable</quote>;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HB448EA3A20194E2EAB08ED4141DF7F63"><enum>(6)</enum><text>by striking
section 151 and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H2764C179B20D4F04BF6028E20B353BFF" style="USC">
<section id="HB979C042F3A147E2B5CF8160F5EB2E08"><enum>151.</enum><header>Issue of
patent</header>
<subsection id="H017ADF747B4E4E98986F551A35CF7C3A"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If it appears that an
applicant is entitled to a patent under the law, a written notice of allowance
of the application shall be given or mailed to the applicant. The notice shall
specify a sum, constituting the issue fee and any required publication fee,
which shall be paid within 3 months thereafter.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H239527B5B6C64FC98398A95A938A2DBB"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Effect of
payment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Upon payment of this
sum the patent may issue, but if payment is not timely made, the application
shall be regarded as
abandoned.</text>
</subsection></section><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8955A940C6C74600B9F6E0C24FBD1B2D"><enum>(7)</enum><text>in section 361, by
striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="H7A268794D23040ACBEC9735FB47A01A5" style="OLC">
<subsection id="H9438DA3E41E84D24A9F232288303C676"><enum>(c)</enum><text>International
applications filed in the Patent and Trademark Office shall be filed in the
English language, or an English translation shall be filed within such later
time as may be fixed by the
Director.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H391D63B06F624ABA925EC5EAE7197D63"><enum>(8)</enum><text>in section 364, by
striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="HA3C0B3EF8ABF48CE90FEDBE390AE00EB" style="OLC">
<subsection id="HCEB96C2872AF42ABA1FC429FF96A790C"><enum>(b)</enum><text>An applicant's
failure to act within prescribed time limits in connection with requirements
pertaining to an international application may be excused as provided in the
treaty and the Regulations.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>;
and</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HFE529D7954DE4590AFE24D600561B592"><enum>(9)</enum><text>in section 371(d),
in the third sentence, by striking <quote>, unless it be shown to the
satisfaction of the Director that such failure to comply was
unavoidable</quote>.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section id="H98DF0F4A26214A828F299405C1CB9023"><enum>203.</enum><header>Effective
date</header>
<subsection id="HA4077EA08C044ACF86924743FB060928"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The amendments made by this title—</text>
<paragraph id="H63ACBACFC9EA47CAB1322517E6FB8E1B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>shall take effect
on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H57AB72AA94FD45B1AD9A59FDB880406E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>shall apply
to—</text>
<subparagraph id="HAB0B53E8970C4BB1998F707CCDBAD347"><enum>(A)</enum><text>any patent issued
before, on, or after the effective date set forth in paragraph (1); and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HEB84311C9139462FADA3154E2C762141"><enum>(B)</enum><text>any application
for patent that is pending on or filed after the effective date set forth in
paragraph (1).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection id="H1C0D0DF5136640CA9F732D6B3889EDE3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Exceptions</header>
<paragraph id="H1E30A4CD8E754EA495EC076D91F295E7"><enum>(1)</enum><header>Section
<enum-in-header>201(a)</enum-in-header></header><text>The amendments made by
section 201(a) shall apply only to applications that are filed on or after the
effective date set forth in subsection (a)(1).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H77726AB1C80447EFA09DF3B22E398521"><enum>(2)</enum><header>Patents in
litigation</header><text>The amendments made by this title shall have no effect
with respect to any patent that is the subject of litigation in an action
commenced before the effective date set forth in subsection (a)(1).</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>