35 U.S.C. § 173 - Term of design patent

• Cite as: 35 U.S.C. § 173

Patents for designs shall be granted for the term of 15 years from the date of grant.

Cite as 35 U.S.C. § 173

Source: 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; Pub. L. 112-211, title I, §102(7), Dec. 18, 2012, 126 Stat. 1532.

current through 5/30/2021

HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES

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

EDITORIAL NOTES

AMENDMENTS

2012- Pub. L. 112-211 substituted "15 years" for "fourteen years".

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".

STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2012 AMENDMENT