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

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

(Amended Aug. 27, 1982, Public Law 97-247, sec. 16, 96 Stat. 321; Dec. 8, 1994, Public Law 103-465, sec. 532(c)(3), 108 Stat. 4987.)

Effective Dates for Changes Made to this Section

CHANGE IN DESIGN PATENT DURATION
PATENT LAW TREATIES IMPLEMENTATION ACT OF 2012

EFFECTIVE DATE.--

(1) IN GENERAL.--Except as otherwise provided in this section, the amendments made by this section shall take effect upon the expiration of the 18–month period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply to any application for patent, and to any patent issuing thereon, that contains or contained at any time--

(A) a claim to a claimed invention that has an effective filing date as defined in Section 100(i) of title 35, United States Code, that is on or after the effective date described in this paragraph; or

(B) a specific reference under section 120, 121, or 365(c) of title 35, United States Code, to any patent or application that contains or contained at any time such a claim.

(2) INTERFERING PATENTS.--The provisions of sections 102(g), 135, and 291 of title 35, United States Code, as in effect on the day before the effective date set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, shall apply to each claim of an application for patent, and any patent issued thereon, for which the amendments made by this section also apply, if such application or patent contains or contained at any time--

(A) a claim to an invention having an effective filing date as defined in Section 100(i) of title 35, United States Code, that occurs before the effective date set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection; or

(B) a specific reference under section 120, 121, or 365(c) of title 35, United States Code, to any patent or application that contains or contained at any time such a claim.