# 35 U.S.C. § 102: Conditions for patentability; novelty

> Federal · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s102

## Section

- **Citation:** 35 U.S.C. § 102
- **Heading:** Conditions for patentability; novelty
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** September 9, 2026
- **Source:** Publisher's official text
- **Location:** Title 35—PATENTS > PART II—PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS AND GRANT OF PATENTS > CHAPTER 10—PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS

## Text

the claimed invention was patented, described in a printed publication, or in public use, on sale, or otherwise available to the public before the effective filing date of the claimed invention; or

( July 19, 1952, ch. 950 , 66 Stat. 797 ; Pub. L. 92–358, § 2 , July 28, 1972 , 86 Stat. 502 ; Pub. L. 94–131, § 5 , Nov. 14, 1975 , 89 Stat. 691 ; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title IV, §§ 4505, 4806] , Nov. 29, 1999 , 113 Stat. 1536 , 1501A–565, 1501A–590; Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title III, § 13205(1) , Nov. 2, 2002 , 116 Stat. 1902 ; Pub. L. 112–29, § 3(b)(1) , Sept. 16, 2011 , 125 Stat. 285 ; Pub. L. 112–211, title I, § 102(2) , Dec. 18, 2012 , 126 Stat. 1531 .)

## Nearby sections

- [35 U.S.C. § 100 Definitions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s100.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 101 Inventions patentable](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s101.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 102 Conditions for patentability; novelty](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s102.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 103 Conditions for patentability; non-obvious subject matter](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s103.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 104 Repealed. Pub. L. 112–29, § 3(d) , Sept. 16, 2011 , 125 Stat. 287 ]](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s104.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 105 Inventions in outer space](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s105.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 111 Application](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s111.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 112 Specification](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s112.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 113 Drawings](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s113.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 114 Models, specimens](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s114.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 115 Inventor’s oath or declaration](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s115.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 116 Inventors](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s116.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 117 Death or incapacity of inventor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s117.md)
- [35 U.S.C. § 118 Filing by other than inventor](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s118.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/usc_t35_s102. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.