35 USC § 8 - Classification of patents

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t35/s8"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "35 USC § 8 - Classification of patents"
title_number: 35
title_name: "PATENTS"
section_number: "8"
section_name: "Classification of patents"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "ESTABLISHMENT, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, FUNCTIONS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2025-12-12"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 794, § 9; renumbered § 8 and amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4717(1), 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–580, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1906.)"
---


# § 8. Classification of patents

The Director may revise and maintain the classification by subject matter of United States letters patent, and such other patents and printed publications as may be necessary or practicable, for the purpose of determining with readiness and accuracy the novelty of inventions for which applications for patent are filed.

---

**Source Credit**: (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 794, § 9; renumbered § 8 and amended Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4717(1), 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–580, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1906.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 6 note (, ).

Changes in language are made.

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 8 was renumbered .

### Amendments

2002— made technical correction to directory language of . See 1999 Amendment note below.

1999—, as amended by , substituted “Director” for “Commissioner”.

, renumbered  as this section.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Amendment by  effective 4 months after , see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of , set out as a note under .