United States Code

(E) shall recognize the public interest in continuing to safeguard broad access to the United States patent system through the reduced fee structure for small entities under section 41(h)(1) of this title; and

(F) provide for the development of a performance-based process that includes quantitative and qualitative measures and standards for evaluating cost-effectiveness and is consistent with the principles of impartiality and competitiveness;

(3) may acquire, construct, purchase, lease, hold, manage, operate, improve, alter, and renovate any real, personal, or mixed property, or any interest therein, as it considers necessary to carry out its functions;

(4)(A) may make such purchases, contracts for the construction, maintenance, or management and operation of facilities, and contracts for supplies or services, without regard to the provisions of the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 471 et seq.), the Public Buildings Act (40 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), and the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11301 et seq.); and

(B) may enter into and perform such purchases and contracts for printing services, including the process of composition, platemaking, presswork, silk screen processes, binding, microform, and the products of such processes, as it considers necessary to carry out the functions of the Office, without regard to sections 501 through 517 and 1101 through 1123 of title 44, United States Code;

(5) may use, with their consent, services, equipment, personnel, and facilities of other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the Federal Government, on a reimbursable basis, and cooperate with such other departments, agencies, and instrumentalities in the establishment and use of services, equipment, and facilities of the Office;

(6) may, when the Director determines that it is practicable, efficient, and cost-effective to do so, use, with the consent of the United States and the agency, instrumentality, Patent and Trademark Office, or international organization concerned, the services, records, facilities, or personnel of any State or local government agency or instrumentality or foreign patent and trademark office or international organization to perform functions on its behalf;

(7) may retain and use all of its revenues and receipts, including revenues from the sale, lease, or disposal of any real, personal, or mixed property, or any interest therein, of the Office;

(8) shall advise the President, through the Secretary of Commerce, on national and certain international intellectual property policy issues;

(9) shall advise Federal departments and agencies on matters of intellectual property policy in the United States and intellectual property protection in other countries;

(10) shall provide guidance, as appropriate, with respect to proposals by agencies to assist foreign governments and international intergovernmental organizations on matters of intellectual property protection;

(11) may conduct programs, studies, or exchanges of items or services regarding domestic and international intellectual property law and the effectiveness of intellectual property protection domestically and throughout the world;

(12)(A) shall advise the Secretary of Commerce on programs and studies relating to intellectual property policy that are conducted, or authorized to be conducted, cooperatively with foreign intellectual property offices and international intergovernmental organiza

tions; and

(B) may conduct programs and studies described in subparagraph (A); and

(13)(A) in coordination with the Department of State, may conduct programs and studies cooperatively with foreign intellectual property offices and international intergovernmental organizations; and

(B) with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, may authorize the transfer of not to exceed $100,000 in any year to the Department of State for the purpose of making special payments to international intergovernmental organizations for studies and programs for advancing international cooperation concerning patents, trademarks, and other matters.

(c) CLARIFICATION OF SPECIFIC POWERS.—(1) The special payments under subsection (b)(13)(B) shall be in addition to any other payments or contributions to international organizations described in subsection (b)(13)(B) and shall not be subject to any limitations imposed by law on the amounts of such other payments or contributions by the United States Government.

(2) Nothing in subsection (b) shall derogate from the duties of the Secretary of State or from the duties of the United States Trade Representative as set forth in section 141 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2171).

(3) Nothing in subsection (b) shall derogate from the duties and functions of the Register of Copyrights or otherwise alter current authorities relating to copyright matters.

(4) In exercising the Director's powers under paragraphs (3) and (4)(A) of subsection (b), the Director shall consult with the Administrator of General Services.

(5) In exercising the Director's powers and duties under this section, the Director shall consult with the Register of Copyrights on all copyright and related matters.

(d) CONSTRUCTION.-Nothing in this section shall be construed to nullify, void, cancel, or interrupt any pending request-for-proposal let or contract issued by the General Services Administration for the specific purpose of relocating or leasing space to the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

(As amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4712], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-572.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(A), is act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, 63 Stat. 377, as amended. Provisions of the act related to management and disposal of Government property are classified to chapter 10 (§ 471 et seq.) of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works. For

complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 471 of Title 40 and Tables.

The Public Buildings Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(A), probably means Pub. L. 86-249, Sept. 9, 1959, 73 Stat. 479, as amended, known as the Public Buildings Act of 1959, which is classified principally to chapter 12 (§ 601 et seq.) of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 601 of Title 40 and Tables.

The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, referred to in subsec. (b)(4)(A), is Pub. L. 100-77, July 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 482, as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 119 (§11301 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 11301 of Title 42 and Tables.

AMENDMENTS

1999 - Pub. L. 106-113 amended section catchline and text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "The Patent and Trademark Office shall have a seal with which letters patent, certificates of trademark registrations, and papers issued from the Office shall be authenticated."

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

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS

This section is referred to in section 32 of this title. §3. Officers and employees

(a) UNDER SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR.—

(1) IN GENERAL.-The powers and duties of the United States Patent and Trademark Office shall be vested in an Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (in this title referred to as the "Director"), who shall be a citizen of the United States and who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Director shall be a person who has a professional background and experience in patent or trademark law.

(2) DUTIES.

(A) IN GENERAL.-The Director shall be responsible for providing policy direction and management supervision for the Office and for the issuance of patents and the registration of trademarks. The Director shall perform these duties in a fair, impartial, and equitable manner.

(B) CONSULTING WITH THE PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEES.-The Director shall consult with the Patent Public Advisory Committee established in section 5 on a regular basis on matters relating to the patent operations of the Office, shall consult with the Trademark Public Advisory Committee established in section 5 on a regular basis on matters relating to the trademark operations of the Office, and shall consult with the respective Public Advisory Committee before submitting budgetary proposals to the Office of Management and Budget or changing or proposing to change patent or trademark user fees or patent or trademark regulations which are subject to the requirement to pro

vide notice and opportunity for public comment under section 553 of title 5, United States Code, as the case may be.

(3) OATH.—The Director shall, before taking office, take an oath to discharge faithfully the duties of the Office.

(4) REMOVAL.-The Director may be removed from office by the President. The President shall provide notification of any such removal to both Houses of Congress.

(b) OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES OF THE OFFICE.— (1) DEPUTY UNDER SECRETARY AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR.-The Secretary of Commerce, upon nomination by the Director, shall appoint a Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Deputy Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office who shall be vested with the authority to act in the capacity of the Director in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Director. The Deputy Director shall be a citizen of the United States who has a professional background and experience in patent or trademark law.

(2) COMMISSIONERS.

(A) APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES.-The Secretary of Commerce shall appoint a Commissioner for Patents and a Commissioner for Trademarks, without regard to chapter 33, 51, or 53 of title 5, United States Code. The Commissioner for Patents shall be a citizen of the United States with demonstrated management ability and professional background and experience in patent law and serve for a term of 5 years. The Commissioner for Trademarks shall be a citizen of the United States with demonstrated management ability and professional background and experience in trademark law and serve for a term of 5 years. The Commissioner for Patents and the Commissioner for Trademarks shall serve as the chief operating officers for the operations of the Office relating to patents and trademarks, respectively, and shall be responsible for the management and direction of all aspects of the activities of the Office that affect the administration of patent and trademark operations, respectively. The Secretary may reappoint a Commissioner to subsequent terms of 5 years as long as the performance of the Commissioner as set forth in the performance agreement in subparagraph (B) is satisfactory.

(B) SALARY AND PERFORMANCE AGREEMENT. The Commissioners shall be paid an annual rate of basic pay not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay for the Senior Executive Service established under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code, including any applicable locality-based comparability payment that may be authorized under section 5304(h)(2)(C) of title 5, United States Code. The compensation of the Commissioners shall be considered, for purposes of section 207(c)(2)(A) of title 18, United States Code, to be the equivalent of that described under clause (ii) of section 207(c)(2)(A) of title 18, United States Code. In addition, the Commissioners may receive a bonus in an

amount of up to, but not in excess of, 50 percent of the Commissioners' annual rate of basic pay, based upon an evaluation by the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Director, of the Commissioners' performance as defined in an annual performance agreement between the Commissioners and the Secretary. The annual performance agreements shall incorporate measurable organization and individual goals in key operational areas as delineated in an annual performance plan agreed to by the Commissioners and the Secretary. Payment of a bonus under this subparagraph may be made to the Commissioners only to the extent that such payment does not cause the Commissioners' total aggregate compensation in a calendar year to equal or exceed the amount of the salary of the Vice President under section 104 of title 3, United States Code.

(C) REMOVAL.-The Commissioners may be removed from office by the Secretary for misconduct or nonsatisfactory performance under the performance agreement described in subparagraph (B), without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code. The Secretary shall provide notification of any such removal to both Houses of Congress. (3) OTHER OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.-The Director shall

(A) appoint such officers, employees (including attorneys), and agents of the Office as the Director considers necessary to carry out the functions of the Office; and

(B) define the title, authority, and duties of such officers and employees and delegate to them such of the powers vested in the Office as the Director may determine. The Office shall not be subject to any administratively or statutorily imposed limitation on positions or personnel, and no positions or personnel of the Office shall be taken into account for purposes of applying any such limitation.

(4) TRAINING OF EXAMINERS.-The Office shall submit to the Congress a proposal to provide an incentive program to retain as employees patent and trademark examiners of the primary examiner grade or higher who are eligible for retirement, for the sole purpose of training patent and trademark examiners.

(5) NATIONAL SECURITY POSITIONS.-The Director, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall maintain a program for identifying national security positions and providing for appropriate security clearances, in order to maintain the secrecy of certain inventions, as described in section 181, and to prevent disclosure of sensitive and strategic information in the interest of national security.

(c) CONTINUED APPLICABILITY OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE.-Officers and employees of the Office shall be subject to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to Federal. employees.

(d) ADOPTION OF EXISTING LABOR AGREEMENTS.-The Office shall adopt all labor agreements which are in effect, as of the day before

the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, with respect to such Office (as then in effect).

(e) CARRYOVER OF PERSONNEL.—

(1) FROM PTO.-Effective as of the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, all officers and employees of the Patent and Trademark Office on the day before such effective date shall become officers and employees of the Office, without a break in service.

(2) OTHER PERSONNEL.-Any individual who, on the day before the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, is an officer or employee of the Department of Commerce (other than an officer or employee under paragraph (1)) shall be transferred to the Office, as necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act,1 if

(A) such individual serves in a position for which a major function is the performance of work reimbursed by the Patent and Trademark Office, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce;

(B) such individual serves in a position that performed work in support of the Patent and Trademark Office during at least half of the incumbent's work time, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce; or

(C) such transfer would be in the interest of the Office, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce in consultation with the Director.

Any transfer under this paragraph shall be effective as of the same effective date as referred to in paragraph (1), and shall be made without a break in service.

(f) TRANSITION PROVISIONS.

(1) INTERIM APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTOR.-On or after the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, the President shall appoint an individual to serve as the Director until the date on which a Director qualifies under subsection (a). The President shall not make more than one such appointment under this subsection.

(2) CONTINUATION IN OFFICE OF CERTAIN OFFICERS. (A) The individual serving as the Assistant Commissioner for Patents on the day before the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act may serve as the Commissioner for Patents until the date on which a Commissioner for Patents is appointed under subsection (b).

(B) The individual serving as the Assistant Commissioner for Trademarks on the day before the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act may serve as the Commissioner for Trademarks until the date on which a Commissioner for Trademarks is appointed under subsection (b).

(As amended Pub. L. 105-304, title IV, §401(a)(1), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2887; Pub. L. 106-44, §2(c), Aug. 5, 1999, 113 Stat. 223; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §4713], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-575.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

For the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, referred to in subsecs. (d) to (f).

1 So in original.

as 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1009(a)(9) [title IV, §4731] of Pub. L. 106-113, set out as an Effective Date of 1999 Amendment note under section 1 of this title.

AMENDMENTS

1999- Pub. L. 106-113 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows:

"(a) There shall be in the Patent and Trademark Office a Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, a Deputy Commissioner, two Assistant Commissioners, and examiners-in-chief appointed under section 7 of this title. The Deputy Commissioner, or, in the event of a vacancy in that office, the Assistant Commissioner senior in date of appointment shall fill the office of Commissioner during a vacancy in that office until the Commissioner is appointed and takes office. The Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, the Deputy Commissioner, and the Assistant Commissioners shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. The Secretary of Commerce, upon the nomination of the Commissioner, in accordance with law shall appoint all other officers and employees.

"(b) The Secretary of Commerce may vest in himself the functions of the Patent and Trademark Office and its officers and employees specified in this title and may from time to time authorize their performance by any other officer or employee.

"(c) The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to fix the per annum rate of basic compensation of each examiner-in-chief in the Patent and Trademark Office at not in excess of the maximum scheduled rate provided for positions in grade 17 of the General Schedule of the Classification Act of 1949, as amended.

"(d) The Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks shall be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce and shall receive compensation at the rate in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5. United States Code.

"(e) The members of the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the Patent and Trademark Office shall each be paid at a rate not to exceed the maximum rate of basic pay payable for GS-16 of the General Schedule under section 5332 of title 5."

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106-44 struck out ", United States Code" after "title 5".

1998 Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 105-304 substituted "in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code" for "prescribed by law for Assistant Secretaries of Commerce".

§5. Patent and Trademark Office Public Advisory Committees

(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PUBLIC ADVISORY COMMITTEES.

(1) APPOINTMENT.-The United States Patent and Trademark Office shall have a Patent Public Advisory Committee and a Trademark Public Advisory Committee, each of which shall have nine voting members who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce and serve at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce. Members of each Public Advisory Committee shall be appointed for a term of 3 years, except that of the members first appointed, three shall be appointed for a term of 1 year, and three shall be appointed for a term of 2 years. In making appointments to each Committee, the Secretary of Commerce shall con

sider the risk of loss of competitive advantage in international commerce or other harm to United States companies as a result of such appointments.

(2) CHAIR.-The Secretary shall designate a chair of each Advisory Committee, whose term as chair shall be for 3 years.

(3) TIMING OF APPOINTMENTS.-Initial appointments to each Advisory Committee shall be made within 3 months after the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act. Vacancies shall be filled within 3 months after they occur.

(b) BASIS FOR APPOINTMENTS.-Members of each Advisory Committee

(1) shall be citizens of the United States who shall be chosen so as to represent the interests of diverse users of the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee;

(2) shall include members who represent small and large entity applicants located in the United States in proportion to the number of applications filed by such applicants, but in no case shall members who represent small entity patent applicants, including small business concerns, independent inventors, and nonprofit organizations, constitute less than 25 percent of the members of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and such members shall include at least one independent inventor; and (3) shall include individuals with substantial background and achievement in finance, management, labor relations, science, technology, and office automation.

In addition to the voting members, each Advisory Committee shall include a representative of each labor organization recognized by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Such representatives shall be nonvoting members of the Advisory Committee to which they are appointed.

(d) DUTIES.-Each Advisory Committee shall(1) review the policies, goals, performance, budget, and user fees of the United States Patent and Trademark Office with respect to patents, in the case of the Patent Public Advisory Committee, and with respect to Trademarks, in the case of the Trademark Public Advisory Committee, and advise the Director on these matters;

(2) within 60 days after the end of each fiscal year

(A) prepare an annual report on the matters referred to in paragraph (1);

(B) transmit the report to the Secretary of Commerce, the President, and the Committees on the Judiciary of the Senate and the House of Representatives; and

(e) COMPENSATION.-Each member of each Advisory Committee shall be compensated for each

day (including travel time) during which such member is attending meetings or conferences of that Advisory Committee or otherwise engaged in the business of that Advisory Committee, at the rate which is the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code. While away from such member's home or regular place of business such member shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.

(f) ACCESS TO INFORMATION.-Members of each Advisory Committee shall be provided access to records and information in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, except for personnel or other privileged information and information concerning patent applications required to be kept in confidence by section 122.

(g) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN ETHICS LAWS.Members of each Advisory Committee shall be special Government employees within the meaning of section 202 of title 18, United States Code. (h) INAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.-The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to each Advisory Committee.

(i) OPEN MEETINGS.-The meetings of each Advisory Committee shall be open to the public, except that each Advisory Committee may by majority vote meet in executive session when considering personnel or other confidential information.

(Added Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4714], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-578.)

REFERENCES IN TEXT

For the effective date of the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(3), as 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1009(a)(9) [title IV. §4731] of Pub. L. 106-113, set out as an Effective Date of 1999 Amendment note under section 1 of this title.

The Federal Advisory Committee Act, referred to in subsec. (h), is Pub. L. 92-463, Oct. 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 770, as amended, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior section 5, act July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 793, related to bond of Commissioner and other officers, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 92-310, title II, §208(a), June 6, 1972, 86 Stat. 203.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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

SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS This section is referred to in section 3 of this title. § 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, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §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, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 94-131, § 2. Nov. 14, 1975, 89 Stat. 690; Pub. L. 97-247, §§ 7, 13, Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 320, 321; Pub. L. 102-204, §8, Dec. 10, 1991. 105 Stat. 1641, related to duties of Commissioner, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 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, §4731] of Pub. L. 106-113, set out as an Effective Date of 1999 Amendment note under section 1 of this title.

§ 7. Library

The Director shall maintain a library of scientific and other works and periodicals, both foreign and domestic, in the Patent and Trademark Office to aid the officers in the discharge of their duties.

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 793, §8; Pub. L. 93-596, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; renumbered §7 and amended Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4717(1), 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-580, 1501A-582.)

PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior section 7, acts July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 793; Pub. L. 85-933, §2, Sept. 6, 1958, 72 Stat. 1793; Pub. L. 86-370, §1(b), Sept. 23, 1959, 73 Stat. 650; Pub. L. 93-596, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 93-601, §2. Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1956; Pub. L. 98-622, title II, § 201(a). Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3386, established the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106-113, div. B, §1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4717(1), 4731]. Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A-580, 1501A-581, effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999.

AMENDMENTS

1999-Pub. L. 106-113 renumbered section 8 of this title as this section and substituted "Director" for "Commissioner".

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

§ 8. Classification of patents

The Director may revise and maintain the classification by subject matter of United States

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