
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: 35USC372]

 
                            TITLE 35--PATENTS
 
                   PART IV--PATENT COOPERATION TREATY
 
                       CHAPTER 37--NATIONAL STAGE
 
Sec. 372. National stage: Requirements and procedure

    (a) All questions of substance and, within the scope of the 
requirements of the treaty and Regulations, procedure in an 
international application designating the United States shall be 
determined as in the case of national applications regularly filed in 
the Patent and Trademark Office.
    (b) In case of international applications designating but not 
originating in, the United States--
        (1) the Director may cause to be reexamined questions relating 
    to form and contents of the application in accordance with the 
    requirements of the treaty and the Regulations;
        (2) the Director may cause the question of unity of invention to 
    be reexamined under section 121 of this title, within the scope of 
    the requirements of the treaty and the Regulations; and
        (3) the Director may require a verification of the translation 
    of the international application or any other document pertaining to 
    the application if the application or other document was filed in a 
    language other than English.

(Added Pub. L. 94-131, Sec. 1, Nov. 14, 1975, 89 Stat. 689; amended Pub. 
L. 98-622, title IV, Secs. 402(e), (f), 403(a), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 
3392; 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.)


                               Amendments

    1999--Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106-113 substituted ``Director'' for 
``Commissioner'' wherever appearing.
    1984--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 98-622, Sec. 403(a), substituted ``Patent 
and Trademark Office'' for ``Patent Office''.
    Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 98-622, Sec. 402(e), added par. (3).
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 98-622, Sec. 402(f), struck out subsec. (c) 
which related to cancellation of claims and payment of special fees.


                    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 1984 Amendment

    Amendment by section 402(e), (f) of Pub. L. 98-622 effective six 
months after Nov. 8, 1984, see section 406(b) of Pub. L. 98-622, set out 
as a note under section 3 of this title.
    Amendment by section 403(a) of Pub. L. 98-622 effective Nov. 8, 
1984, see section 406(a) of Pub. L. 98-622, set out as a note under 
section 351 of this title.
