35 USC § 288 - Action for infringement of a patent containing an invalid claim

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t35/s288"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "35 USC § 288 - Action for infringement of a patent containing an invalid claim"
title_number: 35
title_name: "PATENTS"
section_number: "288"
section_name: "Action for infringement of a patent containing an invalid claim"
chapter_number: 29
chapter_name: "REMEDIES FOR INFRINGEMENT OF PATENT, AND OTHER ACTIONS"
part_number: "III"
part_name: "PATENTS AND PROTECTION OF PATENT RIGHTS"
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. 813; Pub. L. 93–596, § 1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 112–29, § 20(h), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 334.)"
---


# § 288. Action for infringement of a patent containing an invalid claim

Whenever a claim of a patent is invalid, an action may be maintained for the infringement of a claim of the patent which may be valid. The patentee shall recover no costs unless a disclaimer of the invalid claim has been entered at the Patent and Trademark Office before the commencement of the suit.

---

**Source Credit**: (July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 813; Pub. L. 93–596, § 1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949; Pub. L. 112–29, § 20(h), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 334.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 71 (R.S. 4922).

The necessity for a disclaimer to recover on valid claims is eliminated. See section 253.

Language is changed.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2011— struck out “, without deceptive intention,” after “Whenever”.

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

## 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 1975 Amendment

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