35 U.S.C. 21, Filing date and day for taking action
Executive summary:
Potential for Errors: This document contains one section of the U.S. Patent Act (found in Title 35 of the United States Code) as amended by the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act. This page was last updated in November 2011. While the page has been edited to help ensure that the changes made by the AIA to this section are reflected in this document, errors are possible. If you notice such errors, please contact Dan Tysver at (dtysver@bitlaw.com).
Alternate Views: This page uses stylesheets to allow different views of this statutory section. By clicking on the buttons below, one can view this section in a redline version reflecting the changes made by the AIA, a clean version showing the section after the AIA, or an original version showing the original section before the AIA. There is an index page and an all-sections page for this version of 35 USC.
Effective Date: Various sections of the AIA are implemented using different effective dates. If changes have been made to this section of the Patent Act, the effective date(s) for those changes are found in the implementing section of the AIA, and are reproduced below for your convenience.
Redline Clean Version (after America Invents Act) Original (before AIA)
Previous Section (§13) | Next Section (§22)
35 U.S.C. 21 Filing date and day for taking action.
(a) The Director may by rule prescribe that any paper or fee required to be filed in the Patent and Trademark Office will be considered filed in the Office on the date on which it was deposited with the United States Postal Service or would have been deposited with the United States Postal Service but for postal service interruptions or emergencies designated by the Director.
(b) When the day, or the last day, for taking any action or paying any fee in the United States Patent and Trademark Office falls on Saturday, Sunday, or a Federal holiday within the District of Columbia, the action may be taken, or fee paid, on the next succeeding secular or business day.
(Amended Jan. 2, 1975, Public Law 93-596, sec. 1, 88 Stat. 1949; Aug. 27, 1982, Public Law 97-247, sec. 12, 96 Stat. 321; Nov. 29, 1999, Public Law 106-113, sec. 1000(a)(9), 113 Stat. 1501A-582 (S. 1948 sec. 4732(a)(10)(A)).)