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Title 35 — PatentsRelease 119-73not60

§292 False Marking

Title 35 › Part III— PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHTS › Chapter 29— REMEDIES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT, AND OTHER ACTIONS › § 292

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone, without the patent owner's permission, puts a patent owner's name, a patent number, or words like "patent" on a product, its packaging, ads, or on items they import into the United States to copy or to trick people into thinking the owner approved it, or if they label an unpatented item as patented, or say "patent applied for" or "patent pending" when no application exists or is not actually pending to deceive the public, they can be fined up to $500 for each offense. Only the U.S. government can collect that fine. A business or person who loses out in competition because of this false marking can sue in federal court to get money to make up for their loss. Marking a product with information about a patent that covered it but has already expired is allowed and is not a violation.

Full Legal Text

Title 35, §292

Patents — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever, without the consent of the patentee, marks upon, or affixes to, or uses in advertising in connection with anything made, used, offered for sale, or sold by such person within the United States, or imported by the person into the United States, the name or any imitation of the name of the patentee, the patent number, or the words “patent,” “patentee,” or the like, with the intent of counterfeiting or imitating the mark of the patentee, or of deceiving the public and inducing them to believe that the thing was made, offered for sale, sold, or imported into the United States by or with the consent of the patentee; orWhoever marks upon, or affixes to, or uses in advertising in connection with any unpatented article, the word “patent” or any word or number importing that the same is patented, for the purpose of deceiving the public; or Whoever marks upon, or affixes to, or uses in advertising in connection with any article, the words “patent applied for,” “patent pending,” or any word importing that an application for patent has been made, when no application for patent has been made, or if made, is not pending, for the purpose of deceiving the public— Shall be fined not more than $500 for every such offense. Only the United States may sue for the penalty authorized by this subsection.
(b)A person who has suffered a competitive injury as a result of a violation of this section may file a civil action in a district court of the United States for recovery of damages adequate to compensate for the injury.
(c)The marking of a product, in a manner described in subsection (a), with matter relating to a patent that covered that product but has expired is not a violation of this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 50 (R.S. 4901). This is a criminal provision. The first two paragraphs of the corresponding section of existing statute are consolidated, a new paragraph relating to false marking of “patent applied for” is added, and false advertising is included in all the offenses. The minimum fine which has been interpreted by the courts as a maximum, is replaced by a higher maximum. The informer action is included as additional to an ordinary criminal action.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2011—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 112–29, § 16(b)(1), inserted at end “Only the United States may sue for the penalty authorized by this subsection.” Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 112–29, § 16(b)(2), amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: “Any person may sue for the penalty, in which event one-half shall go to the person suing and the other to the use of the United States.” Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 112–29, § 16(b)(3), added subsec. (c). 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–465, in first par., substituted “used, offered for sale, or sold by such person within the United States, or imported by the person into the United States” for “used, or sold by him” and “made, offered for sale, sold, or imported into the United States” for “made or sold”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2011 Amendment Pub. L. 112–29, § 16(b)(4), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 329, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this subsection [amending this section] shall apply to all cases, without exception, that are pending on, or commenced on or after, the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 16, 2011].”

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–465 effective on date that is one year after date on which the WTO Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States [Jan. 1, 1995], with provisions relating to earliest filed patent application, see section 534(a), (b)(3) of Pub. L. 103–465, set out as a note under section 154 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

35 U.S.C. § 292

Title 35 — Patents

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60