§ 1338. Patents, plant variety protection, copyrights, mask works, designs, trademarks, and unfair competition

722 words·~3 min read·/usc/title-28/section-1338

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(a)The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action arising under any Act of Congress relating to patents, plant variety protection, copyrights and trademarks. No State court shall have jurisdiction over any claim for relief arising under any Act of Congress relating to patents, plant variety protection, or copyrights. For purposes of this subsection, the term “State” includes any State of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

(b)The district courts shall have original jurisdiction of any civil action asserting a claim of unfair competition when joined with a substantial and related claim under the copyright, patent, plant variety protection or trademark laws.

(c)Subsections

(a)and

(b)apply to exclusive rights in mask works under chapter 9 of title 17, and to exclusive rights in designs under chapter 13 of title 17, to the same extent as such subsections apply to copyrights.

(June 25, 1948, ch. 646, 62 Stat. 931; Pub. L. 91–577, title III, § 143(b), Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1559; Pub. L. 100–702, title X, § 1020(a)(4), Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4671; Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 503(b)(1), (2)(A), Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2917; Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title III, § 3009(1)], Nov. 29, 1999, 113 Stat. 1536, 1501A–551; Pub. L. 112–29, § 19(a), Sept. 16, 2011, 125 Stat. 331.)

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 41(7) and 371(5) (Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, §§ 24, par. 7, 256, par. 5, 36 Stat. 1092, 1160).

Section consolidates section 41(7) with section 371

(5)of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with necessary changes in phraseology.

Words “of any civil action” were substituted for “all suits at law or in equity” and “cases” to conform section to Rule 2 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Word “patents” was substituted for “patent-right” in said section 371 (Fifth) of title 28, U.S.C., 1940 ed.

Similar provisions respecting suits cognizable in district courts, including those of territories and possessions. (See section 34 of title 17, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Copyrights.)

Subsection

(b)is added and is intended to avoid “piecemeal” litigation to enforce common-law and statutory copyright, patent, and trade-mark rights by specifically permitting such enforcement in a single civil action in the district court. While this is the rule under Federal decisions, this section would enact it as statutory authority. The problem is discussed at length in Hurn v. Oursler (1933, 53 S.Ct. 586, 289 U.S. 238, 77 L.Ed. 1148) and in Musher Foundation v. Alba Trading Co. (C.C.A. 1942, 127 F.2d 9) (majority and dissenting opinions).

Connections19 cite this · traces to 2

Cited by 19 sections · top 15

U.S. Code

statutes-at-large

Public Law 98–620
To amend title 28

CFR

§ 1.907
Inter partes reexamination prohibited.

Traces to 2 documents

U.S. Code

24 references not yet in our index

June 25, 1948, ch. 646
62 Stat. 931
Pub. L. 91–577, title III, § 143(b)
84 Stat. 1559
Pub. L. 100–702, title X, § 1020(a)(4)
102 Stat. 4671
Pub. L. 105–304, title V, § 503(b)(1)
112 Stat. 2917
Pub. L. 106–113, div. B, § 1000(a)(9) [title III, § 3009(1)]
113 Stat. 1536
Pub. L. 112–29, § 19(a)
125 Stat. 331
Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231
36 Stat. 1092
section 34 of title 17
Pub. L. 112–29
Pub. L. 106–113
Pub. L. 105–304, § 503(b)(2)(A)
Pub. L. 105–304, § 503(b)(1)
Pub. L. 100–702, § 1020(a)(4)(B)
Pub. L. 100–702, § 1020(a)(4)(A)
Pub. L. 91–577
section 19(e) of Pub. L. 112–29
section 141 of Pub. L. 91–577

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cites case law

§ 1338

Patents, plant variety protection, copyrights, mask works, designs, trademarks, and unfair competition

Fed. Reg.×10

U.S.C.×7

C.F.R.×1

Stat.×1

U.S.C.§ 1295

U.S.C.§ 2321

ActJune 25, 1948, ch. 646

Stat.62 Stat. 931

Pub. L.Pub. L. 91–577, title III, § 143(b)

Stat.84 Stat. 1559

Pub. L.Pub. L. 100–702, title X, § 1020(a)(4)

Cites 26 · showing 7Cited by 19 across 4 sources