35 USC § 153 - How issued

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t35/s153"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "35 USC § 153 - How issued"
title_number: 35
title_name: "PATENTS"
section_number: "153"
section_name: "How issued"
chapter_number: 14
chapter_name: "ISSUE OF PATENT"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS AND GRANT OF PATENTS"
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. 804; Pub. L. 93–596, § 1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, §§ 13203(c), 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1902, 1906.)"
---


# § 153. How issued

Patents shall be issued in the name of the United States of America, under the seal of the Patent and Trademark Office, and shall be signed by the Director or have his signature placed thereon and shall be recorded in the Patent and Trademark Office.

---

**Source Credit**: (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 804; Pub. L. 93–596, § 1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4732(a)(10)(A)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–582; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, §§ 13203(c), 13206(b)(1)(B), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1902, 1906.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 39 (R.S. 4883, amended (1) , , (2) , , (3) , ).

The phrases referring to the attesting officers and to the recording of the patents are broadened.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

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

, struck out “and attested by an officer of the Patent and Trademark Office designated by the Director,” after “signature placed thereon”.

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

1975— substituted “Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office” wherever appearing.

## 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 .

### Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , see , set out as a note under , Commerce and Trade.