# § 12. Copies of patents and applications for public libraries
The Director may supply copies of specifications and drawings of patents and published applications for patents in printed or electronic form to public libraries in the United States which shall maintain such copies for the use of the public, at the rate for each year’s issue established for this purpose in section 41(d).
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**Source Credit**: (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 794, § 13; Pub. L. 97–247, § 15, Aug. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 321; renumbered § 12 and amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4507(3), 4717(1), 4732(a)(10)(A), 4804(c)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–565, 1501A–580, 1501A–582, 1501A–589; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, §§ 13205(2)(C), 13206(b)(1)(B), (3)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1903, 1906; Pub. L. 112–29, § 20(j), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 335.)
### Historical and Revision Notes
Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 78, part (R.S. 4934, , , 393, amended , ).
The proviso in the schedule of fees of the existing statute is made a separate section and some changes in language are made.
## Editorial Notes
### Prior Provisions
A prior section 12 was renumbered .
### Amendments
2011— struck out “of this title” after “41(d)”.
2002—, amended directory language of . See 1999 Amendment note below.
, made technical correction to directory language of . See 1999 Amendment note below.
, made technical correction to directory language of . See 1999 Amendment note below.
1999—, as amended by , which directed amendment of by substituting “copies of specifications and drawings of patents in printed or electronic form” for “printed copies of specifications and drawings of patents”, was executed to this section, which was , to reflect the probable intent of Congress. This section was subsequently renumbered by . See note above and Effective Date of 1999 Amendment note below.
, as amended by , substituted “Director” for “Commissioner”.
, renumbered as this section.
, as amended by , inserted “and applications” after “patents” in section catchline and “and published applications for patents” after “patents” in text.
1982— substituted “section 41(d)” for “section 41(a)9”.
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date of 2011 Amendment
Amendment by effective upon the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on , and applicable to proceedings commenced on or after that effective date, see section 20() of , set out as a note under .
### Effective Date of 1999 Amendment
Amendment by section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4507(3)] of effective , and applicable only to applications (including international applications designating the United States) filed on or after that date, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4508] of , as amended, set out as a note under .
Amendment by section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4717(1), 4732(a)(10)(A)] of effective 4 months after , see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of , set out as a note under .
### Effective Date of 1982 Amendment
Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under .