Title 35PatentsRelease 119-73

§362 International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority

Title 35 › Part PART IV— - PATENT COOPERATION TREATY › Chapter CHAPTER 36— - INTERNATIONAL STAGE › § 362

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can act as an International Searching Authority and an International Preliminary Examining Authority, collect and send handling fees to the International Bureau; the Director sets the deadlines for paying the handling, preliminary examination, and any extra fees.

Full Legal Text

Title 35, §362

Patents — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Patent and Trademark Office may act as an International Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority with respect to international applications in accordance with the terms and conditions of an agreement which may be concluded with the International Bureau, and may discharge all duties required of such Authorities, including the collection of handling fees and their transmittal to the International Bureau.
(b)The handling fee, preliminary examination fee, and any additional fees due for international preliminary examination shall be paid within such time as may be fixed by the Director.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2002—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–273 made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 106–113. See 1999 Amendment note below. 1999—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–113, as amended by Pub. L. 107–273, substituted “Director” for “Commissioner”. 1986—Pub. L. 99–616 inserted “and International Preliminary Examining Authority” in section catchline and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The Patent and Trademark Office may act as an International Searching Authority with respect to international applications in accordance with the terms and conditions of an agreement which may be concluded with the International Bureau.” 1984—Pub. L. 98–622 substituted “Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

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 1986 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 99–616 effective July 1, 1987, and applicable to all international applications pending before or after that date, see section 9 of Pub. L. 99–616, set out as a note under section 351 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by 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.

Effective Date

Section effective Jan. 24, 1978, and applicable to international and national applications filed on and after that date, see section 11 of Pub. L. 94–131, set out as a note under section 351 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

35 U.S.C. § 362

Title 35Patents

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73