United States Code, and section 1295(a)(4)(A) of 
title 28, United States Code, as in effect on Sep-
tember 15, 2012, shall apply to interference pro-
ceedings that are declared after September 15, 
2012, under section 135 of title 35, United States 
Code, as in effect before the effective date under sec-
tion 3(n) of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. 
The Patent Trial and Appeal Board may be deemed 
to be the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences 
for purposes of such interference proceedings. 
(l) PATENT
AND TRADEMARK PUBLIC ADVISORY 
COMMITTEES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 5(a) of title 35, 
United States Code, is amended— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Mem-
bers of’’ and all that follows through ‘‘such ap-
pointments.’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘In 
each year, 3 members shall be appointed to 
each Advisory Committee for 3-year terms that 
shall begin on May 1 of that year. Any vacancy 
on an Advisory Committee shall be filled within 
90 days after it occurs. A new member who is 
appointed to fill a vacancy shall be appointed to 
serve for the remainder of the predecessor’s 
term.’’; 
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(B) by striking paragraph (2) and insert-
ing the following: 
‘‘(2) CHAIRMAN.—The Secretary of Commerce, 
in consultation with the Director, shall designate a 
Chair and Vice Chair of each Advisory Committee 
from among the members appointed under para-
graph (1). Each Chair and Vice Chair shall serve for 
a 1-year term beginning on May 1 of the year in 
which he or she is so designated. If the Chair re-
signs before the completion of his or her term or is 
otherwise unable to exercise the functions of the 
Chair, the Vice Chair shall exercise the functions of 
the Chair.’’; and 
(C) by striking paragraph (3). 
(2) TRANSITION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Com-
merce shall, in the Secretary’s discretion, deter-
mine the time and manner in which the amend-
ments made by paragraph (1) shall take effect, 
except that, in each year following the year in 
which this Act is enacted, 3 members shall be 
appointed to each Advisory Committee (to 
which such amendments apply) for 3-year terms 
that begin on May 1 of that year, in accordance 
with section 5(a) of title 35, United States 
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Code, as amended by paragraph (1) of this sub-
section. 
(B) DEEMED TERMINATION OF TERMS.— 
In order to implement the amendments made 
by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Commerce 
may determine that the term of an existing 
member of an Advisory Committee under sec-
tion 5 of title 35, United States Code, shall be 
deemed to terminate on May 1 of a year begin-
ning after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, regardless of whether May 1 is before or 
after the date on which such member’s term 
would terminate if this Act had not been en-
acted. 
(m) EFFECTIVE DATE OF URUGUAY ROUND AGREE-
MENTS ACT.— 
(1) CERTAIN PATENT APPLICATIONS.—Notwith-
standing section 534(b)(1) of the Uruguay Round 
Agreements Act (35 U.S.C. 154 note), section 
154(a) of title 35, United States Code, as amended 
by section 532 of the Uruguay Round Agreements 
Act (Public Law 103–465; 108 Stat. 4809), shall 
apply, and section 154(c)(1) of title 35, United 
States Code, shall not apply, to any application that 
is— 
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(A) filed before the date that is 6 months 
after the date of the enactment of the Uruguay 
Round Agreements Act; and 
(B) pending on a date that is 1 year or 
more after the date of the enactment of this 
Act. 
(2) EFFECTIVE
DATE.—This subsection shall 
take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act and shall apply to any 
original plant or utility patent application that is 
pending on or after that effective date. 
(n) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 123(a) of title 
35, United States Code, is amended in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1) by inserting ‘‘of this title’’ after 
‘‘For purposes’’. 
(o) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Except as otherwise provided 
in this Act, the amendments made by this Act shall take 
effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall 
apply to proceedings commenced on or after such date of 
enactment. 
Æ 
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