
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: 35USC255]

 
                            TITLE 35--PATENTS
 
            PART III--PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHTS
 
             CHAPTER 25--AMENDMENT AND CORRECTION OF PATENTS
 
Sec. 255. Certificate of correction of applicant's mistake

    Whenever a mistake of a clerical or typographical nature, or of 
minor character, which was not the fault of the Patent and Trademark 
Office, appears in a patent and a showing has been made that such 
mistake occurred in good faith, the Director may, upon payment of the 
required fee, issue a certificate of correction, if the correction does 
not involve such changes in the patent as would constitute new matter or 
would require re-examination. Such patent, together with the 
certificate, shall have the same effect and operation in law on the 
trial of actions for causes thereafter arising as if the same had been 
originally issued in such corrected form.

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 809; Pub. L. 93-596, Sec. 1, Jan. 2, 
1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, 
Sec. 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-582.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

    This section providing for the correction of minor clerical errors 
made by the applicant, is new and follows a similar provision in the 
trade-mark law, 15 U.S.C., 1946 ed., Sec. 1057(g).


                               Amendments

    1999--Pub. L. 106-113 substituted ``Director'' for ``Commissioner''.
    1975--Pub. L. 93-596 substituted ``Patent and Trademark Office'' for 
``Patent Office''.


                    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, Sec. 4731] of Pub. L. 106-113, set out 
as a note under section 1 of this title.


                    Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 93-596 effective Jan. 2, 1975, see section 4 of 
Pub. L. 93-596, set out as a note under section 1111 of Title 15, 
Commerce and Trade.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

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