35-U.S.C.-256
§256 – Correction of Named Inventor
Pathway
Title 35 > Part III > Chapter 25 > Section 256
Details
- Reference: Section 256
- Legend: §256 – Correction of Named Inventor
- USCode Year: 2013
Provision Content
(a) Correction.—Whenever through error a person is named in an issued patent as the inventor, or through error an inventor is not named in an issued patent, the Director may, on application of all the parties and assignees, with proof of the facts and such other requirements as may be imposed, issue a certificate correcting such error.
(b) Patent Valid if Error Corrected.—The error of omitting inventors or naming persons who are not inventors shall not invalidate the patent in which such error occurred if it can be corrected as provided in this section. The court before which such matter is called in question may order correction of the patent on notice and hearing of all parties concerned and the Director shall issue a certificate accordingly.
(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 810; Pub. L. 97–247, §6(b), Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 320; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, §13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1906; Pub. L. 112–29, §20(f), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 334.)
Historical and Revision Notes
This section is new and is companion to section 116.
The first two paragraphs provide for the correction of the inadvertent joining or nonjoining of a person as a joint inventor. The third paragraph provides that a patent shall not be invalid for such cause, and also provides that a court may order correction of a patent; the two sentences of this paragraph are independent.
Amendments
2011—Pub. L. 112–29 designated first and second pars. as subsecs. (a) and (b), respectively, inserted headings, and, in subsec. (a), struck out and such error arose without any deceptive intention on his part after not named in an issued patent.
2002—Pub. L. 107–273 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 106–113. See 1999 Amendment note below.
1999—Pub. L. 106–113, as amended by Pub. L. 107–273, substituted Director for Commissioner in two places.
1982—Pub. L. 97–247 substituted Correction of named inventor for Misjoinder of inventor as section catchline and, in text, substituted Whenever through error a person is named in an issued patent as the inventor, or through error an inventor is not named in an issued patent and such error arose without any deceptive intention on his part, the Commissioner may, on application of all the parties and assignees, with proof of the facts and such other requirements as may be imposed, issue a certificate correcting such error for Whenever a patent is issued on the application of persons as joint inventors and it appears that one of such persons was not in fact a joint inventor, and that he was included as a joint inventor by error and without any deceptive intention, the Commissioner may, on application of all the parties and assignees, with proof of the facts and such other requirements as may be imposed, issue a certificate deleting the name of the erroneously joined person from the patent, substituted The error of omitting inventors or naming persons who are not inventors shall not invalidate the patent in which such error occurred if it can be corrected as provided in this section for Whenever a patent is issued and it appears that a person was a joint inventor, but was omitted by error and without deceptive intention on his part, the Commissioner may, on application of all the parties and assignees, with proof of the facts and such other requirements as may be imposed, issue a certificate adding his name to the patent as a joint inventor, and struck out provision that the misjoinder or nonjoinder of joint inventors not invalidate a patent, if such error could be corrected as provided in this section.
Effective Date of 2011 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 112–29 effective upon the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on Sept. 16, 2011, and applicable to proceedings commenced on or after that effective date, see section 20(l) of Pub. L. 112–29, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4731] of Pub. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–247 effective six months after Aug. 27, 1982, see section 17(c) of Pub. L. 97–247, set out as an Effective Date note under section 294 of this title.
U.S. Encyclopedia of Law Coverage
35-U.S.C.-212 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Patents
In this entry about 35-U.S.C.-212, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to patents in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States patents-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
Title 35 – Patents in the Legal Encyclopedia: Rights
In this entry about Title 35 – Patents, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to rights in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States rights-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
35-U.S.C.-251 in the Legal Encyclopedia: Protection
In this entry about 35-U.S.C.-251, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to protection in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States protection-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
Title 35 – Patents in the Legal Encyclopedia: Patent Rights
In this entry about Title 35 – Patents, find legal reference material, bibliographies and premiere content related to patent rights in the American Encyclopedia of Law, presenting a comprehensive view of the United States patent rights-specific issues, written by authorities in the field.
Leave a Reply