Source: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/35/120?quicktabs_8=3
Timestamp: 2015-11-27 04:38:52
Document Index: 50975747

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 120', '§ 9', '§ 104', '§ 1000', '§ 4503', '§ 3', '§ 102', '§ 202', '§ 102', '§ 202', '§ 202', '§ 102', '§ 20', '§ 15', '§ 3']

35 U.S. Code § 120 - Benefit of earlier filing date in the United States | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute
U.S. Code › Title 35 › Part II › Chapter 11 › § 120 35 U.S. Code § 120 - Benefit of earlier filing date in the United States
An application for patent for an invention disclosed in the manner provided by section 112
(a) (other than the requirement to disclose the best mode) in an application previously filed in the United States, or as provided by section 363, which names an inventor or joint inventor in the previously filed application shall have the same effect, as to such invention, as though filed on the date of the prior application, if filed before the patenting or abandonment of or termination of proceedings on the first application or on an application similarly entitled to the benefit of the filing date of the first application and if it contains or is amended to contain a specific reference to the earlier filed application. No application shall be entitled to the benefit of an earlier filed application under this section unless an amendment containing the specific reference to the earlier filed application is submitted at such time during the pendency of the application as required by the Director. The Director may consider the failure to submit such an amendment within that time period as a waiver of any benefit under this section. The Director may establish procedures, including the payment of a surcharge, to accept an unintentionally delayed submission of an amendment under this section.
(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 800; Pub. L. 94–131, § 9,Nov. 14, 1975, 89 Stat. 691; Pub. L. 98–622, title I, § 104(b),Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3385; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4503(b)(1)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–563; Pub. L. 112–29, §§ 3(f), 15(b), 20(j),Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 288, 328, 335; Pub. L. 112–211, title I, § 102(5), title II, § 202(b)(3),Dec. 18, 2012, 126 Stat. 1531, 1536.)
Pub. L. 112–211, title I, §§ 102(5), 103,Dec. 18, 2012, 126 Stat. 1531, 1532, provided that, effective on the later of the date that is 1 year after Dec. 18, 2012, or the date that the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs enters into force with respect to the United States, and applicable only to certain applications filed on and after that effective date and patents issuing thereon, this section is amended in the first sentence by substituting “section 363 or 385” for “section 363”. See 2012 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 112–211, title II, §§ 202(b)(3), 203,Dec. 18, 2012, 126 Stat. 1536, provided that, effective on the date that is 1 year after Dec. 18, 2012, applicable to patents issued before, on, or after that effective date and patent applications pending on or filed after that effective date, and not effective with respect to patents in litigation commenced before that effective date, this section is amended in the fourth sentence by substituting “including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41
(a)(7)” for “including the payment of a surcharge”. See 2012 Amendment note below.
2012—Pub. L. 112–211, § 202(b)(3), substituted “including the requirement for payment of the fee specified in section 41
(a)(7)” for “including the payment of a surcharge”.
Pub. L. 112–211, § 102(5), substituted “section 363 or 385” for “section 363”.
2011—Pub. L. 112–29, § 20(j), struck out “of this title” after “363”.
Pub. L. 112–29, § 15(b), substituted “section 112
(a) (other than the requirement to disclose the best mode)” for “the first paragraph of section 112 of this title”.
Pub. L. 112–29, § 3(f), substituted “which names an inventor or joint inventor” for “which is filed by an inventor or inventors named”.
1999—Pub. L. 106–113inserted at end “No application shall be entitled to the benefit of an earlier filed application under this section unless an amendment containing the specific reference to the earlier filed application is submitted at such time during the pendency of the application as required by the Director. The Director may consider the failure to submit such an amendment within that time period as a waiver of any benefit under this section. The Director may establish procedures, including the payment of a surcharge, to accept an unintentionally delayed submission of an amendment under this section.”
1984—Pub. L. 98–622substituted “which is filed by an inventor or inventors named in the previously filed application” for “by the same inventor”.
1975—Pub. L. 94–131inserted “, or as provided by section 363 of this title,” after “filed in the United States”.
Amendment by section 102(5) ofPub. L. 112–211effective on the later of the date that is 1 year after Dec. 18, 2012, or the date that the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs enters into force with respect to the United States, and applicable only to certain applications filed on and after that effective date and patents issuing thereon, see section 103 ofPub. L. 112–211, set out as a note under section 100 of this title.
Amendment by section 202(b)(3) ofPub. L. 112–211effective on the date that is 1 year after Dec. 18, 2012, applicable to patents issued before, on, or after that effective date and patent applications pending on or filed after that effective date, and not effective with respect to patents in litigation commenced before that effective date, see section 203 ofPub. L. 112–211, set out as an Effective Date note under section 27 of this title.
Amendment by section 3(f) ofPub. L. 112–29effective upon the expiration of the 18-month period beginning on Sept. 16, 2011, and applicable to certain applications for patent and any patents issuing thereon, see section 3(n) ofPub. L. 112–29, set out as an Effective Date of 2011 Amendment; Savings Provisions note under section 100 of this title.
Amendment by section 15(b) ofPub. L. 112–29effective on Sept. 16, 2011, and applicable to proceedings commenced on or after that date, see section 15(c) ofPub. L. 112–29, set out as a note under section 119 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–622applicable to all United States patents granted before, on, or after Nov. 8, 1984, and to all applications for United States patents pending on or filed after that date, except as otherwise provided, see section 106 ofPub. L. 98–622, set out as a note under section 103 of this title.
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–131effective Jan. 24, 1978, and applicable on and after that date to patent applications filed in the United States and to international applications, where applicable, see section 11 ofPub. L. 94–131, set out as an Effective Date note under section 351 of this title.