
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 35USC12]

 
                            TITLE 35--PATENTS
 
            PART I--UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
 
       CHAPTER 1--ESTABLISHMENT, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, FUNCTIONS
 
Sec. 12. Copies of patents and applications for public libraries

    The Director may supply copies of specifications and drawings of 
patents and published applications for patents in printed or electronic 
form to public libraries in the United States which shall maintain such 
copies for the use of the public, at the rate for each year's issue 
established for this purpose in section 41(d) of this title.

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 794, Sec. 13; Pub. L. 97-247, Sec. 15, 
Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 321; renumbered Sec. 12 and amended Pub. L. 106-
113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Secs. 4507(3), 4717(1), 
4732(a)(10)(A), 4804(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-565, 
1501A-580, 1501A-582, 1501A-589.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

    Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., Sec. 78, part (R.S. 4934, Feb. 
18, 1922, ch. 58, Sec. 9, 42 Stat. 389, 393, amended June 15, 1950, ch. 
249, 64 Stat. 215).
    The proviso in the schedule of fees of the existing statute is made 
a separate section and some changes in language are made.


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 12 was renumbered section 11 of this title.


                               Amendments

    1999--Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Secs. 4717(1), 
4732(a)(10)(A)], renumbered section 13 of this title as this section and 
substituted ``Director'' for ``Commissioner''.
    Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4804(c)], 
substituted ``copies of specifications and drawings of patents in 
printed or electronic form'' for ``printed copies of specifications and 
drawings of patents''.
    Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4507(3)], which 
directed the amendment of section 13 of this title by inserting ``and 
applications'' after ``patents'' in section catchline and ``and 
published applications for patents'' after ``patents'' in text, was 
executed by making the insertions in this section to reflect the 
probable intent of Congress and the renumbering of section 13 as this 
section by Pub. L. 106-113, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4717(1)]. 
See note above and Effective Date of 1999 Amendment notes below.
    1982--Pub. L. 97-247 substituted ``section 41(d)'' for ``section 
41(a)9''.


                    Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

    Amendment by section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4507(3)] of Pub. L. 
106-113 effective on date that is 1 year after Nov. 29, 1999, and 
applicable to all applications filed under section 111 of this title on 
or after that date, and all applications complying with section 371 of 
this title that resulted from international applications filed on or 
after that date, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4508] of Pub. L. 
106-113, set out as a note under section 10 of this title.
    Amendment by section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Secs. 4717(1), 
4732(a)(10)(A)] of Pub. L. 106-113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 
1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 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 Aug. 27, 1982, see section 
17(a) of Pub. L. 97-247, set out as a note under section 41 of this 
title.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 41 of this title.
