
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: 35USC6]

 
                            TITLE 35--PATENTS
 
            PART I--UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
 
       CHAPTER 1--ESTABLISHMENT, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, FUNCTIONS
 
Sec. 6. Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences

    (a) Establishment and Composition.--There shall be in the United 
States Patent and Trademark Office a Board of Patent Appeals and 
Interferences. The Director, the Commissioner for Patents, the 
Commissioner for Trademarks, and the administrative patent judges shall 
constitute the Board. The administrative patent judges shall be persons 
of competent legal knowledge and scientific ability who are appointed by 
the Director.
    (b) Duties.--The Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences shall, on 
written appeal of an applicant, review adverse decisions of examiners 
upon applications for patents and shall determine priority and 
patentability of invention in interferences declared under section 
135(a). Each appeal and interference shall be heard by at least three 
members of the Board, who shall be designated by the Director. Only the 
Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences may grant rehearings.

(Added Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, 
Sec. 4717(2)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-580.)


                            Prior Provisions

    A prior section 6, acts July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 793; Pub. 
L. 92-132, Oct. 5, 1971, 85 Stat. 364; Pub. L. 93-596, Sec. 1, Jan. 2, 
1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 94-131, Sec. 2, Nov. 14, 1975, 89 Stat. 
690; Pub. L. 97-247, Secs. 7, 13, Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 320, 321; Pub. 
L. 102-204, Sec. 8, Dec. 10, 1991, 105 Stat. 1641, related to duties of 
Commissioner, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, 
Sec. 1000(a)(9) [title IV, Secs. 4715(a), 4731], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 
Stat. 1536, 1501A-580, 1501A-581, effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 
1999.


                             Effective Date

    Section effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 
1000(a)(9) [title IV, Sec. 4731] of Pub. L. 106-113, set out as an 
Effective Date of 1999 Amendment note under section 1 of this title.
