37 CFR 1.491 — National stage commencement, entry, and fulfillment
Ninth Edition, Revision 01.2024
[Editor Note: Certain paragraphs below are applicable only to patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) or 363 on or after September 16, 2012 *]
- (a) Subject to 35 U.S.C. 371(f) , the national stage shall commence with the expiration of the applicable time limit under PCT Article 22(1) or (2) , or under PCT Article 39(1)(a) .
- (b) An international application enters the national stage when the applicant has filed the documents and fees required by 35 U.S.C. 371(c)(1) and (c)(2) within the period set in § 1.495 .
- (c) An international application fulfills the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371 when the national stage has commenced under 35 U.S.C. 371(b) or (f) and all applicable requirements of 35 U.S.C. 371 have been satisfied.
[Added, 52 FR 20050, May 28, 1987; revised, 66 FR 45775, Aug. 30, 2001; revised, 67 FR 520, Jan. 4, 2002, effective Apr. 1, 2002; heading and para. (b) revised and para. (c) added, 77 FR 48776, Aug. 14, 2012, effective Sept. 16, 2012]
[ *The changes effective Sept. 16, 2012 are applicable only to patent applications filed under 35 U.S.C. 111(a) or 363 on or after Sept. 16, 2012. See § 1.491 (pre‑AIA) for the rule otherwise in effect.]
Cited authority
- 35 U.S.C. 111 Application
- 35 U.S.C. 363 International application designating the United States: Effect
- 35 U.S.C. 371 National stage: Commencement
- PCT Article 22 Copy, Translation, and Fee, to Designated Offices
- PCT Article 39 Copy, Translation, and Fee, to Elected Offices
- 37 CFR 1.495 (pre-AIA) Entering the national stage in the United States of America
- 37 CFR 1.491 (pre-AIA) National stage commencement and entry
Cited by
- 1481.03 Correction of 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 120 Benefits
- 1893.01(a)(1) Submissions Required by 30 Months from the Priority Date
- 1893.01(d) Translation
- 1893.03(c) The Priority Date, Priority Claim, and Priority Papers for a U.S. National Stage Application
- 210 Priority to, or the Benefit of, the Filing Date of a Prior-Filed Application
- 211 Claiming the Benefit of an Earlier Filing Date Under 35 U.S.C. 120 and 119(e)
- 213 Right of Priority of Foreign Application
- 213.06 Claiming Priority and Filing a Certified Copy in a National Stage Application (35 U.S.C. 371)
- 215.02 Time For Filing Certified Copy – Application Filed On or After March 16, 2013
- 215.02(a) Timeliness Requirement – Met By Priority Document Exchange
- 215.02(b) Timeliness Requirement – Met By Interim Copy of Foreign Application
- 216.01 Perfecting Claim for Priority Under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) or (f) After Issuance of a Patent
- 217 Incorporation by Reference Under 37 CFR 1.57(b)
- 2730 Applications Filed on or After May 29, 2000; Grounds for Adjustment
- 2732 Reduction of Period of Adjustment of Patent Term
- 2920.05(d) Foreign Priority
- 2920.05(e) Benefit Claims Under 35 U.S.C. 386(c)
- 608.01(a) Arrangement of Application
- 608.01(p) Completeness of Specification
- 717.02(a) Invoking the Prior Art Exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C)
- 717.02(b) Evaluating Whether the Prior Art Exception under AIA 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) is Properly Invoked
- 37 CFR 1.55 Claim for foreign priority
- 37 CFR 1.57 Incorporation by reference
- 37 CFR 1.57 (pre-PLT) Incorporation by reference
- 37 CFR 1.78 Claiming benefit of earlier filing date and cross-references to other applications
- 37 CFR 1.491 (pre-AIA) National stage commencement and entry
- 37 CFR 1.495 Entering the national stage in the United States of America
- 37 CFR 1.704 Reduction of period of adjustment of patent term