
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: 35USC262]

 
                            TITLE 35--PATENTS
 
            PART III--PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHTS
 
                  CHAPTER 26--OWNERSHIP AND ASSIGNMENT
 
Sec. 262. Joint owners

    In the absence of any agreement to the contrary, each of the joint 
owners of a patent may make, use, offer to sell, or sell the patented 
invention within the United States, or import the patented invention 
into the United States, without the consent of and without accounting to 
the other owners.

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 810; Pub. L. 103-465, title V, 
Sec. 533(b)(3), Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4989.)


                      Historical and Revision Notes

    This section states a condition in existing law not expressed in the 
existing statutes.


                               Amendments

    1994--Pub. L. 103-465 substituted ``use, offer to sell, or sell'' 
for ``use or sell'' and inserted ``within the United States, or import 
the patented invention into the United States,'' after ``invention''.


                    Effective Date of 1994 Amendment

    Amendment by Pub. L. 103-465 effective on date that is one year 
after date on which the WTO Agreement enters into force with respect to 
the United States [Jan. 1, 1995], with provisions relating to earliest 
filed patent application, see section 534(a), (b)(3) of Pub. L. 103-465, 
set out as a note under section 154 of this title.
