Title 35 — PatentsRelease 119-73
§3 Officers and employees
Title 35 › Part PART I— - UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - ESTABLISHMENT, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, FUNCTIONS › § 3
Summary
Makes the head of the Patent and Trademark Office an Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property who is also the Director. The President, with the Senate’s approval, appoints the Director. The Director must be a U.S. citizen with experience in patent or trademark law. The Director runs the Office, sets policy, and oversees issuing patents and registering trademarks. The Director must act fairly, consult the Patent and Trademark Public Advisory Committees regularly and before proposing budget, fee, or regulation changes that require public notice, take an oath before starting, and can be removed by the President, who must tell both Houses of Congress. The Secretary of Commerce, after the Director’s nomination, appoints a Deputy Director who can act for the Director if needed and who must also be a U.S. citizen with patent or trademark experience. The Secretary also appoints a Commissioner for Patents and a Commissioner for Trademarks (regardless of certain civil service chapters 33, 51, or 53 of title 5). Each Commissioner must be a U.S. citizen with management ability and the right legal background, serves a 5-year term, and may be reappointed if performance is satisfactory. Commissioners’ pay may not exceed the Senior Executive Service maximum under 5 U.S.C. 5382. They may get a bonus up to 50 percent of base pay based on performance, but bonuses cannot make their total pay equal or exceed the Vice President’s salary (3 U.S.C. 104). The Secretary can remove Commissioners for misconduct or poor performance and must notify Congress. The Director hires and assigns other staff, may set pay for administrative patent and trademark judges up to Executive Schedule level III (5 U.S.C. 5314), must keep existing labor agreements in force from the day before the Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act took effect, and must propose a plan to retain senior examiners to train others. Office employees follow federal rules in title 5. The law also allows certain Commerce employees working for the Office to be transferred in, and allows a one-time temporary Director appointment and temporary service by the Assistant Commissioners for Patents and Trademarks until permanent appointments are made.
Full Legal Text
Title 35, §3
Patents — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)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)(A)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)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 provide notice and opportunity for public comment under section 553 of title 5, as the case may be.
(3)The Director shall, before taking office, take an oath to discharge faithfully the duties of the Office.
(4)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)(1)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)(A)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. 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)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, including any applicable locality-based comparability payment that may be authorized under section 5304(h)(2)(C) of title 5. The compensation of the Commissioners shall be considered, for purposes of section 207(c)(2)(A) of title 18, to be the equivalent of that described under clause (ii) of section 207(c)(2)(A) of title 18. 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.
(C)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. The Secretary shall provide notification of any such removal to both Houses of Congress.
(3)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.
(4)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)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.
(6)The Director may fix the rate of basic pay for the administrative patent judges appointed pursuant to section 6 and the administrative trademark judges appointed pursuant to section 17 of the Trademark Act of 1946 (15 U.S.C. 1067) at not greater than the rate of basic pay payable for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5. The payment of a rate of basic pay under this paragraph shall not be subject to the pay limitation under section 5306(e) or 5373 of title 5.
(c)Officers and employees of the Office shall be subject to the provisions of title 5, relating to Federal employees.
(d)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)(1)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)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 that Act, 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.
(f)(1)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)(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).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 2 (R.S. 476, amended (1) Feb. 15, 1916, ch. 22, § 1, 39 Stat. 8, (2) Feb. 14, 1927, ch. 139, § 1, 44 Stat. 1098, (3) Apr. 11, 1930, ch. 132, § 1, 46 Stat. 155). The temporary designation of the assistant commissioner as Commissioner in case of a vacancy in office is added. This will eliminate complications since present applicable general statutes (5 U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 7) permit a vacancy to be temporarily filled only for not more than 30 days. Changes in language are made. “Assistant commissioners” is used in the second sentence (and elsewhere in the bill) as referring to all three assistants. This entire title is subject to Reorganization Plan No. 5 of 1950 (64 Stat. 1263) which vests all functions of the Patent Office in the Secretary of Commerce and authorizes delegation by him. It has been found impractical to so word the various sections of the title, and a general provision has been inserted as the second paragraph of this section of the bill, leaving the wording of various sections of the title in terms of officers previously specified and to whom the functions presently stand delegated.
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Patent and Trademark Office Efficiency Act, referred to in subsecs. (d) to (f), is Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, subtitle G (§ 4701 et seq.)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–572. For the
Effective Date
of the Act 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. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
of 1999 Amendment note set out under section 1 of this title and Tables.
Amendments
2011—Subsec. (b)(6). Pub. L. 112–29, § 21(b), added par. (6). Subsec. (e)(2). Pub. L. 112–29, § 20(i)(1), substituted “that Act,” for “this Act,” in introductory provisions. 2002—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–273, § 13206(a)(2)(A), struck out “United States Code,” after “title 5,”. Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 107–273, § 13206(a)(2)(B)(i), struck out “, United States Code” after “title 5”. Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 107–273, § 13206(a)(2)(B)(ii)–(iv), in first sentence, struck out “United States Code,” after “section 5382 of title 5,” and “, United States Code” after “section 5304(h)(2)(C) of title 5”, in second sentence, struck out “United States Code,” after “for purposes of section 207(c)(2)(A) of title 18,” and “, United States Code” after “clause (ii) of section 207(c)(2)(A) of title 18”, and in last sentence, struck out “, United States Code” after “title 3”. Subsec. (b)(2)(C). Pub. L. 107–273, § 13206(a)(2)(B)(v), struck out “, United States Code” after “title 5”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–273, § 13206(a)(2)(C), in heading, struck out “, United States Code” before period at end, and in text, struck out “United States Code,” after “title 5,”. 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”. 1984—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–622 added subsec. (e). 1982—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–247 struck out “not more than fifteen” after “two Assistant Commissioners, and”, and inserted “appointed under section 7 of this title” after “examiners-in-chief”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 97–366 added subsec. (d). 1975—Pub. L. 93–596 substituted “Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office”, and “Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks” for “Commissioner of Patents”, wherever appearing. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 93–601 designated first par. as subsec. (a), redesignated first assistant commissioner as a Deputy Commissioner, granted authority for appointment of not more than fifteen examiners-in-chief to Secretary of Commerce instead of the President, and struck out provision relating to performance by assistant commissioners of duties assigned by Commissioner. Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 93–601 designated second and third pars. as subsecs. (b) and (c), respectively. 1964—Pub. L. 88–426 repealed provisions which prescribed annual rate of compensation of Commissioner. 1959—Pub. L. 86–370 authorized Secretary of Commerce to fix compensation of examiners-in-chief. 1958—Pub. L. 85–933 increased number of examiners-in-chief from nine to not more than fifteen and specified annual compensation of Commissioner.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2011 AmendmentNotwithstanding section 35 of Pub. L. 112–29 (set out as a note under section 1 of this title), amendment by section 21 of Pub. L. 112–29 effective as of Sept. 16, 2011, see section 1(g) of Pub. L. 112–274, set out as a note under section 2 of this title. Amendment by section 20(i)(1) of Pub. L. 112–29 effective upon the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on Sept. 16, 2011, and applicable to proceedings commenced on or after that
Effective Date
, see section 20(l) of Pub. L. 112–29, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1999 AmendmentAmendment 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.
Effective Date
of 1984 Amendment Pub. L. 98–622, title IV, § 406(b), Nov. 8, 1984, 98 Stat. 3393, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by section 401, 402, and 405 of this Act [amending this section and section 361, 366, 371, 372, and 376 of this title] shall take effect six months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 8, 1984].”
Effective Date
of 1982 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 97–247 effective Aug. 27, 1982, see section 17(a) of Pub. L. 97–247, set out as a note under section 41 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1975 Amendment Pub. L. 93–601, § 4(b), Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1957, provided that: “This Act [amending this section and section 7 and 151 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 151 of this title] shall be effective upon enactment [Jan. 2, 1975]. Examiners-in-chief in office on the date of enactment shall continue in office under and in accordance with their then existing appointments.” 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.
Effective Date
of 1964 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 88–426 effective on first day of first pay period which begins on or after July 1, 1964, except to the extent provided in section 501(c) of Pub. L. 88–426, see section 501 of Pub. L. 88–426.
Effective Date
of 1959 Amendment Pub. L. 86–370, § 7(b), Sept. 23, 1959, 73 Stat. 653, provided that: “section 1 [amending this section, section 7 of this title, and provisions set out as a note below], 3 [amending section 2205 and 2208 of former Title 5, Executive Departments and Government Officers and Employees], and 6 [amending section 1082 of former Title 5 and section 903 of Title 20, Education] of this Act shall become effective on the first day of the first pay period which begins after the date of enactment of this Act [Sept. 23, 1959].” Such section 7(b) was repealed by Pub. L. 89–554, § 8(a), Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 660. Existing Positions, Compensation, and Appointments Unaffected by Pub. L. 86–370 Until Action Taken Under
Amendments
Pub. L. 86–370, § 1(c), Sept. 23, 1959, 73 Stat. 650, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by this section [amending section 1 and 7 of this title] shall not affect—“(1) any position of examiner-in-chief or designated examiner-in-chief existing immediately prior to the
Effective Date
of this section [see
Effective Date
of 1959 Amendment note set out above], or “(2) any incumbent of any such position, his appointment thereto, his rate of compensation, or his right to receive such compensation, until appropriate action is taken under authority of such
Amendments
.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
35 U.S.C. § 3
Title 35 — Patents
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73