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

Whenever, without deceptive intention, 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.

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 813 ; Pub. L. 93–596, §1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949 .)

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.

Amendments

1975-Pub. L. 93–596 substituted "Patent and Trademark Office" for "Patent Office".

Effective Date of 1975 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 93–596 effective Jan. 2, 1975, see section 4 of Pub. L. 93–596, set out as a note under section 1111 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in section 157 of this title.