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18 U.S.C. 2071 Concealment, removal, or mutilation generally. - Patent Laws

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

(a) Whoever willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, or destroys, or attempts to do so, or, with intent to do so takes and carries away any record, proceeding, map, book, paper, document, or other thing, filed or deposited with any clerk or officer of any court of the United States, or in any public office, or with any judicial or public officer of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.

(b) Whoever, having the custody of any such record, proceeding, map, book, document, paper, or other thing, willfully and unlawfully conceals, removes, mutilates, obliterates, falsifies, or destroys the same, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both; and shall forfeit his office and be disqualified from holding any office under the United States. As used in this subsection, the term "office" does not include the office held by any person as a retired officer of the Armed Forces of the United States.

(Amended Nov. 5, 1990, Public Law 101-510, sec. 552(a), 104 Stat. 1566; Sept. 13, 1994, Public Law 103-322, sec. 330016(1)(I), 108 Stat. 2147.)

INDEX OF PATENT LAWS

A


Abandoned applications, fee on petition to revive

... 41(a)7


Abandonment of application by failure to prosecute

... 133, 371


Abandonment of invention:


Bar to patent

... 102


By violation of secrecy

... 182


Adjustment of patent term

... 154


Administrative Patent Judges

... 6


Administrator, executor, or guardian

... 117


Affidavits and depositions in contested cases, rules for taking

... 23


Agreement to terminate interference

... 135


Agriculture, Secretary of, to furnish information, and detail employees to Director for plant patent

... 164


Allowance and issue of patents

... 153


Allowance, notice of

... 151


Amendment:


Copying claim of issued patent

... 135


Time for

... 133, 135


Annual indexes of patents

... 10


Annual report of the Director

... 13


Apostille on assignment

... 261


Appeals to Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences

... 134


Fee

... 41(a)6, 134


Hearing of

... 6


Reexamination proceedings

... 306


Appeals to Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

... 141


Certificate of decision of Court recorded in the United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 144


Determination of Appeal; revision of decision

... 144


From Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences

... 141


Grounds of decision to be furnished court

... 143


Notice of appeal

... 142


Proceedings on appeal

... 143


Applicant for foreign patent, license required

... 184


Applicant for international application

... 373


Applicant, notified of interference

... 135


Application:


Abandonment of, by failure to prosecute

... 133


Assignment of

... 261


Confidential while pending

... 122


Continuing

... 120


Description; specification and claim

... 112


Divisional

... 121


Drawings

... 113


Effect of defective execution

... 26


Effective as of date of earliest foreign application in certain cases

... 119


Examination of invention

... 131


Fee on filing

... 41(a)1, 111


For deceased or insane inventors

... 117


May be made by legal representative of deceased or incapacitated inventor

... 117


Must be made within specified time after foreign application for right of priority

... 119


Oath of applicant (See Oath in patent application)


Owned by Government

... 267


Provisional

... 111


Publication

... 102, 122, 181


Reissue

... 251


Secrecy order

... 181


What to contain

... 111


When filed by other than inventor

... 118, 121


Appointments, how made

... 3


Arbitration of interferences

... 135


Arbitration, voluntary

... 294


Article patented marked with number of patent

... 287


Assignee:


May file application in certain cases

... 118


May file divisional application

... 121


May file reissue application

... 251


Patent may be issued to

... 152


Assignments, patent

... 261


Establishing prima facie execution of

... 261


Fees for recording

... 41(a)10


Must be recorded in United States Patent and Trademark Office to issue patent to assignee

... 152


Patent may issue to assignee

... 152


Recording in Patent and Trademark Office

... 261


Attorney fees in infringement suit

... 285


Attorneys and agents:


May be refused recognition for misconduct

... 32


Petition to District Court, DC

... 32


Suspension or exclusion from practice

... 32


Unauthorized practitioners

... 33

B


Bars to grant of a patent

... 102, 103


Benefit of earlier filing date in foreign country

... 119


Benefit of earlier filing date in United States

... 120


Best mode required

... 112


Bill in equity (See Civil action)


Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, how constituted

... 6

C


Certificate of correction:


Applicant's mistake

... 255


Fee for applicant's mistake

... 41(a)8


Office mistake

... 254


Certified copies:


Fee for certification

... 41(a)11


Of drawings and specifications of patents issued

... 9


Of records, furnished to Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in appeals

... 143


Citation of prior art in patent

... 301


Citizenship required in oath

... 115


Civil action:


Election of in case of interference

... 141


Infringement

... 291


In case of interference

... 146


Jurisdiction, plurality of parties, foreign party

... 146


To obtain patent

... 145


Claim of patent:


Independent or dependent

... 41, 112


Independent or dependent, validity

... 282


Invalid, effect of

... 253


Invalid, suits on patent with

... 288


Notice of rejection

... 132


Too extensive or narrow, remedy

... 251


What to cover

... 112


Classification of patents

... 8


Clerk of United States Court may summon witness in


Interference cases

... 24


Must notify Director of patent suits

... 290


Commerce, Department of, United States Patent and Trademark Office in

... 1


Commerce, Secretary of:


Appointments by

... 3


Commissioner for Patents:


How appointed and duties

... 3


Member of Board

... 6


Commonly owned invention and reference subject matter

... 103


Compensation, right to because of secrecy order

... 183


Composition of matter:


Patentable

... 101


Specimens of ingredients may be required

... 114


Concealment of records

... 18 U.S.C. 2071


Confidential status of application

... 122, 205


Continuing application

... 120


Contributory infringement

... 271


Copies of records, fees

... 41


Correction of inventors in patent

... 256


Correction of letters patent

... 254, 255

D


Damages for infringement

... 284


Day of taking any action or paying any fee falling on Saturday, Sunday, or holiday

... 21


Death or incapacity of inventor

... 117


Decisions in patent cases, printing of

... 10


Declaration in lieu of oath

... 25


Dedication of term

... 253


Defective execution of documents, effect of

... 26


Defenses in action for infringement

... 282


Definitions

... 100, 351


Deposit with United States Postal Service

... 21


Depositions, Director may establish rules for

... 23


Deputy Commissioner

... 6


Member of Board

... 6


Description of invention

... 112


Design patents:


Double recovery, not allowed

... 289


Fees

... 41(a)3


For what granted

... 171


Liability for infringement of

... 289


Penalty for unauthorized use of patented design

... 289


Prior foreign applications

... 172


Right of priority

... 172


Subject to same provisions as other patents

... 171


Term of

... 173


Unauthorized use of

... 289


Designated office

... 363, 366, 367, 371, 372


Determination of patent term adjustment

... 154


Director:


Annual report to Congress

... 13


Consult with Patent Public Advisory Committee

... 3


Duties of

... 6


How appointed

... 3


Intellectual Property Policy Issues, advises President, Federal Departments

... 2


May disbar attorneys

... 32


May establish charges

... 41


May make rules for taking affidavits and depositions

... 23


Member of Board

... 6


Reexamination order

... 304


Shall cause examination to be made

... 131


To establish regulations

... 3


To furnish court with grounds of decision, on appeal

... 143


To prescribe rules and regulations governing recognition of attorneys and agents

... 2


To sign patents or have name printed thereon and attested

... 153


To superintend grant of patents

... 3


Disbarment of attorneys and agents

... 32


Disclaimer:


Fee

... 41(a)5


How filed and by whom

... 253


Must be filed before commencement of suit to recover costs

... 288


Nature of

... 253


District Court for District of Columbia:


Jurisdiction

... 146


Review of disbarment of attorneys and agents

... 32


Division of application

... 121


Division of patent on reissue

... 251


Drawing:


Attached to patent

... 154


Part of patent

... 154


Printing of

... 10


When necessary

... 113


Duties of Director

... 3

E


Elected office

... 371, 372


Employees of United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 3


How appointed

... 3


Restrictions on as to interest in patents

... 4


English language

... 361


Entry into national phase in United States

... 371


Error in naming inventors

... 116


Establishment of date of invention by reference to knowledge or use in foreign country

... 104


Establishment, United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 1


Examination:


Applicants shall be notified of rejection on

... 132


To be made of application and alleged invention

... 131


Exchange of United States Patent and Trademark Office Publications for other publications

... 10


Exchange of printed copies of patents and published application of patents with foreign countries

... 11


Executors, administrators or guardians

... 117


Extension of patent term

... 155


Extension of time to reply fee

... 41(a)8

F


Falsely making or labeling articles as patented

... 292


Federal agency, defined

... 200


Federal Assistance, inventions made with:


Confidentiality

... 205


Definitions

... 201


Disposition of rights

... 202


Domestic and foreign protection of federally owned inventions

... 207


Educational awards

... 212


March-in rights

... 203


Policy and objective of

... 200


Precedence of chapter over other Acts

... 210


Preference for United States industry

... 204


Regulations governing Federal licensing

... 208


Relationship to antitrust laws

... 211


Restrictions on licensing of federally owned inventions

... 209


Uniform clauses and regulations

... 206


Fees:


Amount of

... 41


For attorney awarded by court

... 285


For records, publications, and services not specified in statute

... 41


How paid and refunded

... 42


Independent inventor, 50% reduction

... 41(h)


International

... 361, 376


Nonprofit organization, 50% reduction

... 41(h)


Payable to Director

... 42(a)


Small business, 50% reduction

... 41(h)


Small entity, 50% reduction

... 41(h), 133


To witness interference cases

... 24


Filing application by other than inventor

... 118


Filing date requirements

... 111


Filing fee, Amount of

... 41(a)1


Foreign applications:


License to file required

... 184


Penalty for filing without license

... 185, 186


Foreign countries, exchange of printed copies of patents and published application of patents with

... 11


Foreign country, knowledge of use in, not used to establish date of invention

... 102, 104


Foreign patentee:


Jurisdiction

... 293


Service

... 293


Foreign patents:


Copies of, exchanged for United States patents and published application of patents

... 11


Prior, effect on United States application for patent

... 102


Foreign priority

... 119(a)-(d), 365, 373


Fraudulent statements

... 18 U.S.C. 1001


Funding agreement, defined

... 200

G


Government interests in patents

... 267

H


Holiday, time for action expiring on

... 21

I


Importation of products made by a patented process

... 295


Improvements, patents may be granted for

... 101


Indexes of patents and patentees, printing of

... 10


Infringement, patent: Action for

... 281


Attorney fees

... 285


By United States, time limitation in suit for

... 286


Clerk of court to notify United States Patent and Trademark Office of suit

... 290


Contributory

... 271


Damages for

... 284


Defenses in suit for

... 273, 282


Defined

... 271


Design patent

... 289


Injunction

... 283


Notice of, necessary to recovery of damages

... 287


Pleading defense and special matters to be proved in suit

... 282


Suit for, when a claim is invalid

... 288


Temporary presence in United States

... 272


Time limitation

... 286


Injunctions may be granted by court having jurisdiction

... 283


Insane persons, patent applications of

... 117


Interference, patent:


Agreements, between parties, relating to termination, to be filed in Patent and Trademark Office

... 135


Appeal to court

... 141


Arbitration

... 135


Determination of priority

... 102, 135


Parties to be notified of

... 135


Review of decision by civil action

... 145, 146


Rules for taking testimony

... 23


International application

... 351, 365, 366, 367, 375


Fees

... 376


National phase in United States

... 371


Priority rights

... 365


Interfering patent:


How set aside

... 291


Jurisdiction, plurality of parties, foreign party

... 146, 291


Relief against

... 291


International Bureau

... 351, 361, 362, 371


International Preliminary Examining Authority

... 362, 364, 368


International Searching Authority

... 351, 362, 364, 368


International studies

... 2


Intervening rights on reissue

... 252


Invalid patent claim disclaimer

... 288


Invalidity of term extension

... 282


Invention date as affected by activity abroad

... 104


Invention, defined

... 100


Invention made abroad

... 104


Inventions promotion, improper and deceptive

... 297


Inventions in outer space

... 105


Inventions patentable

... 101


Inventions previously patented abroad

... 102


Inventive step

... 103


Inventor:


Correction of patent

... 256


Death or incapacity

... 117


May obtain patent

... 101


Oath for joint

... 116


Refuses to sign

... 118


To make application

... 111


Inventor's certificate as reference

... 102


Inventor's certificate priority right

... 119


Issue of patent

... 151


Issue fee

... 41


If not paid within three months, patent withheld

... 151


Nonpayment

... 41, 151


Payment of

... 151

J


Joint inventors

... 116, 256


Joint owners

... 262


Jurisdiction of District Court for District of Columbia

... 32

K


Knowledge or use in foreign country no bar to patent

... 102

L


Legal representative of dead or incapacitated inventor

... 117


Liability of States

... 296


Libraries, public, copies of patents and published applications for patents for

... 12, 41


Library

... 7


License for foreign filing

... 184


Limitation on damages

... 154, 286, 287

M


Machines patentable

... 100


Maintenance fees

... 41(b)


Late payment

... 41(c)


Manufactures patentable

... 101


Marking articles falsely as patented

... 292


Marking articles patented

... 287


Misjoinder of inventor

... 116, 202, 256


Mistake in patent, certificate thereof issued

... 254, 255


Model, shall be furnished if required

... 114


Money:


Paid by mistake or in excess, refunded

... 42


Received for fees, etc. to be paid into Treasury

... 42


Multiple dependent claim

... 112


Fee

... 41


Mutilation of records

... 18 U.S.C. 2071

N


National Security

... 3, 122, 181


National stage of international application

... 371, 372, 373


New matter inadmissible in reissue

... 251


New matter, may not be introduced by amendment

... 132


Nonjoinder of inventor

... 256


Nonobviousness

... 103


Nonprofit organization, defined

... 200


Nonresident patentee

... 293


Notice as regards patents:


As to proof in infringement suits

... 282


Of allowance of patent

... 151


Of appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

... 142, 143


Of interference

... 135


Of patent suit, decision to be given United States Patent and Trademark Office by clerk of court

... 290


Of rejection of an application

... 132


Of suit to be entered on file of patent

... 290


To the public by Federal agency

... 209


To the public that invention is patented

... 287


Novelty

... 102

O


Oath in patent application

... 115, 152


Before whom taken in foreign countries

... 25, 115


Before whom taken in the United States

... 115


Declaration in lieu of

... 25


Joint inventors

... 116


Must be made by inventor, if living

... 115


Requirements of

... 115


To be made by legal representative if inventor is dead or incapacitated

... 117


Obviousness

... 103


Officer of United States Patent and Trademark Office may attest patents

... 153


Officers and employees:


Of United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 3


Of United States Patent and Trademark Office, restrictions on as to interests in patents

... 4


Official Gazette:


Exchange for publications

... 11


Printing and distribution of

... 11


Public Advisory Committee Report

... 5


Owners, joint

... 262


Ownership assignment

... 261

P


Paris Convention

... 119


Patent and Trademark Office: See United States Patent and Trademark Office


Patent Cooperation Treaty:


Definitions

... 351


Patent fees

... 41


Disposition of

... 42


Patent laws, printing of

... 10


Patent pending, false marking as

... 292


Patent Public Advisory Committee

... 3, 5


Appointment, timing and basis

... 5


Duties

... 5


Consultation with Director

... 3, 5


Patent term adjustment

... 154


Patent term extension

... 155


Patent term extension application

... 156


Patent term restoration

... 155A


Patentability, conditions for

... 102, 103


Patentable inventions

... 101


Patented article, marked as such

... 287


Patentee:


Defined

... 100


Notified of interference

... 135


Patents:


Application for

... 111


Assignment of

... 261


Based on international application

... 375


Certified copies of

... 9


Classification of

... 8


Contents and duration of

... 154


Copies supplied to public libraries

... 12, 41


Copying claim of

... 135


Date, duration, and form

... 154


Design (See Design patents)


Effect of adverse interference decision

... 135


Exchange of printed copies with foreign countries

... 11


Fee on issuing

... 41


Filing application in foreign country

... 184


For what granted

... 101


Foreign knowledge or use no bar to grant of

... 102


How issued, attested, and recorded

... 153


May be granted to assignee

... 152


May be withheld in certain cases

... 181


Obtainable by civil action

... 145


Personal property

... 261


Presumption of validity

... 282


Price of copies

... 41(a)9


Printing of

... 10


Reissuing of, when defective

... 251


Rights of invention made with federal assistance

... 200 - 212


Restrictions on officers and employees of United States Patent and Trademark Office as to interest in

... 4


Surrender of, to take effect on reissue

... 251


Term

... 154, 155, 166A, 156


Term adjustment

... 154


Term extension

... 155, 156


Term restoration

... 155A


Time of issue, payment of issue fee

... 151


To be authenticated by seal of United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 2


When to issue

... 151


Withheld for nonpayment of issue fee

... 151


Patent rights in inventions made with Federal


assistance

... 200-212


Confidentiality

... 205


Definitions

... 201


Disposition of rights

... 202


Domestic and foreign protection of federally owned inventions

... 207


Educational awards

... 212


March-in rights

... 203


Policy and objective of

... 200


Precedence of chapter over other Acts

... 210


Preference for United States industry

... 204


Regulations governing federal licensing

... 208


Relationship to antitrust laws

... 211


Restrictions on licensing of federally owned inventions

... 209


Uniform clauses and regulations

... 206


Period for response

... 21, 133


Photolithography, Headings of drawings printed

... 10


Plant patents:


Claim

... 162, 164


Description

... 162, 163


Fees

... 41


Nature of right

... 163


Plants patentable

... 161


Secretary of Agriculture to furnish information and detail employees

... 164


Pleading and proof in action for infringement

... 282


Postal Service deposit

... 21


Practical application, defined

... 200


Pre-issuance opposition, when prohibited

... 122


Presumption of product made by patented process

... 295


Presumption of validity of patents

... 282


Printed publication bar to a patent

... 102


Printing:


Decisions in patent cases

... 10


Of papers filed

... 22


United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 10


Printing headings of drawings by United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 10


Prior art, citation of

... 301


Prior patenting or publication bar to patent

... 102


Priority, foreign

... 119, 365


Priority of invention

... 102


Priority of invention, determined by Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences

... 135


Priority, right of, under treaty or law

... 119


For design applications

... 172


Process defined

... 100


Process Patent Amendment Act of 1988

... 287


Process patentable

... 101


Product made by patent process

... 295


Property of United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 2


Provisional applications

... 111, 119


Provisional rights

... 154


Protest and pre-issuance opposition, when prohibited

... 122


Public use or sale

... 102


Of invention bar to a patent

... 102


Publication of international application, effect

... 374


Publication of patent applications

... 122, 181


Publications regarding patents and trademarks

... 10

R


Receiving Office

... 351, 361, 364, 367, 368


Recording of assignments

... 261


Reexamination order by Director

... 304, 313


Reexamination procedure


Appeal

... 134, 141, 306, 315


Certificate of patentability, unpatentability, and claim cancellation

... 307, 316


Conduct of reexamination proceedings

... 305, 314


Determination of issue by Director

... 303, 312


Determination of new question

... 303, 312


Ex Parte

... 302-307


Inter Partes

... 311-318


When prohibited

... 317


Request

... 302, 311


Special dispatch

... 305, 314


Stay of litigation

... 318


Reexamination to be made after first rejection, if desired

... 132


References, to be cited on examination

... 132


Refund of money paid by mistake or in excess

... 42


Reissue of patents:


Application fee

... 41(a)4


Application may be made by assignee in certain cases

... 251


By reason of defective claims

... 251


Effect of

... 252


For unexpired term of original patent

... 251


Intervening rights

... 252


Of defective patents

... 251


To contain no new matter

... 251


Rejection, applicant shall be notified of reasons for

... 132


Remedy for infringement of patent

... 281


Removal of records

... 18 U.S.C. 2071


Report to Congress, annual

... 13


Request for reexamination proceeding

... 302, 311


Restoration of patent

... 155A


Restrictions on officers and employees of United States Patent and Trademark Office as to interest in patents

... 4


Retention of revenue

... 2


Revival if delay unavoidable

... 133


Right of foreign priority

... 365


Right to compensation because of secrecy order

... 183


Rules for taking testimony, Director to establish

... 23


Rules of practice:


Authority for

... 2


Printing of

... 10

S


Saturday, time for action expiring on

... 21


Seal of United States Patent and Trademark Office

... 2


Secrecy of applications

... 122


Secrecy of certain inventions

... 181 - 188


Secrecy of international application

... 368


Secrecy order

... 181


Small business firm, defined

... 200


Small entity status

... 2, 41


Specification(s):


Contents of

... 112


If defective, reissue to correct

... 251


Part of patent

... 154


Printing of

... 10, 41


Uncertified copies, price of

... 41


Specimens, may be required

... 114


Statutory invention registration

... 157


Subpoenas to witnesses

... 24


Suit against the United States

... 286


Suit in equity (See Civil action)


Sunday, time for action expiring on

... 21


Surcharge for later filing of fee or oath

... 111

T


Term extension:


For administrative delays

... 154


For delays due to interference, secrecy orders, and/or appellate review

... 154


Regulatory review

... 156


Term of patent:


Design

... 173


Disclaimer of

... 253


Extension

... 155, 156


Period

... 154


Restoration

... 155A


Testimony, rules for taking

... 23


Time:


Expiring on Saturday, Sunday, or holiday

... 21


For payment of issue fee

... 151


For taking action in Government cases

... 267


Limitation on damages

... 286


Within which action must be taken

... 133


Title of invention

... 154


Trademark fees

... 42(c)


Trademarks, reference to

... 1, 2, 3, 10


Translation error in international application

... 375

U


Unauthorized disclosure

... 182


Unauthorized person may not lawfully assist persons in transaction of business before the Office

... 33


Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property

... 6


United States as designated office

... 363


United States, defined

... 100


United States Patent and Trademark Office:


In Department of Commerce

... 1


Library

... 7


Printing

... 10


Rules, authority for

... 2


Seal of

... 2


Unpatented article, penalty for deceptive marking

... 292


Use in foreign countries, no bar to grant of patent

... 102

V


Verified translation requirement

... 372


Voluntary arbitration

... 294

W


Withdrawal of international application

... 366


Withholding of patent

... 181


Witness:


Failing to attend or refusing to testify

... 24


Fees of, interference cases

... 24


In interference summoned by clerk of United States court

... 24


When in contempt, punishment

... 24