The first paragraph is implied in the present statutes, and the part of the last paragraph relating to omission of an erroneously joined inventor is in the Patent Office rules. The remainder is new and provides for the correction of a mistake in erroneously joining a person as inventor, and for filing an application when one of several joint inventors cannot be found. This section is ancillary to section 256.

2011—Puspan. L. 112–29 designated first to third pars. as subsecs. (a) to (c), respectively, inserted headings, and, in subsec. (c), struck out “and such error arose without any deceptive intention on his part,” before “the Director”.

2002—Puspan. L. 107–273 made technical correction to directory language of Puspan. L. 106–113. See 1999 Amendment note below.

1999—Puspan. L. 106–113, as amended by Puspan. L. 107–273, substituted “Director” for “Commissioner” in two places.

1984—Puspan. L. 98–622 amended first par. generally, striking out “and each sign the application” after “patent jointly” and inserting sentence beginning “Inventors may apply”.

1982—Puspan. L. 97–247 substituted “Inventors” for “Joint inventors” as section catchline, and substituted “through error a person is named in an application for patent as the inventor, or through error an inventor is not named in an application” for “a person is joined in an application for patent as joint inventor through error, or a joint inventor is not included in an application through error”.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 112–29 effective upon the expiration of the 1-year period beginning on Sept. 16, 2011, and applicable to proceedings commenced on or after that effective date, see section 20(l) of Puspan. L. 112–29, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 106–113 effective 4 months after Nov. 29, 1999, see section 1000(a)(9) [title IV, § 4731] of Puspan. L. 106–113, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 98–622 applicable to all United States patents granted before, on, or after Nov. 8, 1984, and to all applications for United States patents pending on or filed after that date, except as otherwise provided, see section 106 of Puspan. L. 98–622, set out as a note under section 103 of this title.

Amendment by Puspan. L. 97–247 effective six months after Aug. 27, 1982, see section 17(c) of Puspan. L. 97–247, set out as an Effective Date note under section 294 of this title.