Title 35, PatentsRelease 119-102
§293 Nonresident Patentee; Service and Notice
Title 35 › PART III — PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHTS › CHAPTER 29 — REMEDIES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT, AND OTHER ACTIONS › § 293
Summary
Foreign patent owners may file a U.S. agent with the Patent Office to receive legal papers about the patent. If no one is named or found, the Eastern District of Virginia court may serve notice by publication or other means and handle the patent as if the owner were present.
Full Legal Text
Title 35, §293
Patents, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Every patentee not residing in the United States may file in the Patent and Trademark Office a written designation stating the name and address of a person residing within the United States on whom may be served process or notice of proceedings affecting the patent or rights thereunder. If the person designated cannot be found at the address given in the last designation, or if no person has been designated, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia shall have jurisdiction and summons shall be served by publication or otherwise as the court directs. The court shall have the same jurisdiction to take any action respecting the patent or rights thereunder that it would have if the patentee were personally within the jurisdiction of the court.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
This section provides for service on non-resident patentees.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2011—Pub. L. 112–29 substituted “United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia” for “United States District Court for the District of Columbia”. 1975—Pub. L. 93–596 substituted “Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2011 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 112–29 effective Sept. 16, 2011, and applicable to any civil action commenced on or after that date, see section 9(b) of Pub. L. 112–29, set out as a note under section 1071 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
Effective Date
of 1975 AmendmentAmendment 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.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
35 U.S.C. § 293
Title 35, Patents
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102