MPEP § 2908 — Filing Date in the United States (Annotated Rules)

§2908 Filing Date in the United States

USPTO MPEP version: BlueIron's Update: 2025-12-31

This page consolidates and annotates all enforceable requirements under MPEP § 2908, including statutory authority, regulatory rules, examiner guidance, and practice notes. It is provided as guidance, with links to the ground truth sources. This is information only, it is not legal advice.

Filing Date in the United States

This section addresses Filing Date in the United States. Primary authority: 35 U.S.C. 381, 35 U.S.C. 384(b), and 37 CFR 1.1023(b). Contains: 1 requirement, 1 permission, and 2 other statements.

Key Rules

Topic

Hague Definitions

8 rules
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2908-7c66ee43059af3dd7c8c517b]
Definitions for Hague Agreement Terms
Note:
This rule defines key terms used in the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs.
(a) IN GENERAL.—When used in this part, unless the context otherwise indicates—
  • (1) the term ‘treaty’ means the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs adopted at Geneva on July 2, 1999;
  • (2) the term 'regulations'—
    • (A) when capitalized, means the Common Regulations under the treaty; and
    • (B) when not capitalized, means the regulations established by the Director under this title;
  • (3) the terms 'designation', 'designating', and 'designate' refer to a request that an international registration have effect in a Contracting Party to the treaty;
  • (4) the term 'International Bureau' means the international intergovernmental organization that is recognized as the coordinating body under the treaty and the Regulations;
  • (5) the term 'effective registration date' means the date of international registration determined by the International Bureau under the treaty;
  • (6) the term 'international design application' means an application for international registration; and
  • (7) the term 'international registration' means the international registration of an industrial design filed under the treaty.
Jump to MPEP SourceHague DefinitionsTitle Format RequirementsDesign Title Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2908-e4ea84f8eb69438b4c88f8d1]
Definition of International Registration for Industrial Designs
Note:
This rule defines 'international registration' as the international filing of an industrial design under the treaty.

(a) IN GENERAL.—When used in this part, unless the context otherwise indicates—

(7) the term 'international registration' means the international registration of an industrial design filed under the treaty.

Jump to MPEP SourceHague DefinitionsBasic Hague Agreement PrinciplesInternational Design Applications
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2908-10f46d9512d70f2aabd6b5e9]
Filing Date Is International Registration Date Under Hague Agreement
Note:
The filing date for an international design application in the United States is determined by the date of international registration as established by the International Bureau under the Hague Agreement.

(a) Subject to paragraph (b) of this section, the filing date of an international design application in the United States is the date of international registration determined by the International Bureau under the Hague Agreement (35 U.S.C. 384 and 381(a)(5)).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.1023Hague DefinitionsHague Agreement OverviewDesignation of United States
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2908-d0ba9c445618833544a0960d]
Petition for Alternative U.S. Filing Date Under Hague Agreement
Note:
An applicant may petition the Director to assign a filing date other than the international registration date if they believe it is entitled under the Hague Agreement.

(b) Where the applicant believes the international design application is entitled under the Hague Agreement to a filing date in the United States other than the date of international registration, the applicant may petition the Director under this paragraph to accord the international design application a filing date in the United States other than the date of international registration. Such petition must be accompanied by the fee set forth in § 1.17(f) and include a showing to the satisfaction of the Director that the international design application is entitled to such filing date.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.17(f)Hague DefinitionsDesignation of United StatesInternational Design Application Fees
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2908-c2946e813898e8d518eb8348]
Filing Date of International Design Application Is Effective Registration Date
Note:
The filing date for an international design application in the United States is determined by the effective registration date as defined by the treaty, subject to review under specific provisions.

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 384(a), the filing date of an international design application in the United States is the “effective registration date”, subject to review pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 384(b). The “effective registration date” means “the date of international registration determined by the International Bureau under the treaty”. See 35 U.S.C. 381(a)(5).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.1023Hague DefinitionsDesignation of United StatesFiling Date Requirements
StatutoryInformativeAlways
[mpep-2908-6c43e5255b28bdb5fa286a1f]
Effective Registration Date Is Determined by International Bureau
Note:
The effective registration date for an international design application in the United States is determined by the International Bureau under the treaty.

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 384(a), the filing date of an international design application in the United States is the “effective registration date”, subject to review pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 384(b). The “effective registration date” means “the date of international registration determined by the International Bureau under the treaty”. See 35 U.S.C. 381(a)(5).

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.1023Hague DefinitionsHague Agreement OverviewFiling Date Requirements
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2908-48438dc211498c73700690e5]
Request for Filing Date Review of International Design Application
Note:
An applicant may petition the Director to review and set a filing date in the United States different from the international registration date if they believe it is entitled under the Hague Agreement.

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 384(b), an applicant may request review by the Director of the filing date of the international design application in the United States. The procedure for requesting such review is set forth in 37 CFR 1.1023(b). Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.1023(b), where the applicant believes the international design application is entitled under the Hague Agreement to a filing date in the United States other than the date of international registration, the applicant may petition the Director under 37 CFR 1.1023(b) to accord the international design application a filing date in the United States other than the date of international registration. Such petition must be accompanied by the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(f) and include a showing to the satisfaction of the Director that the international design application is entitled to such filing date.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.1023(b)Hague DefinitionsDesignation of United StatesFiling Date Requirements
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2908-1c3eb2e660adfeb9820f36bf]
Petition for Alternative U.S. Filing Date Under Hague Agreement
Note:
An applicant may petition the Director to assign a filing date other than the international registration date if they believe it is entitled under the Hague Agreement.

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 384(b), an applicant may request review by the Director of the filing date of the international design application in the United States. The procedure for requesting such review is set forth in 37 CFR 1.1023(b). Pursuant to 37 CFR 1.1023(b), where the applicant believes the international design application is entitled under the Hague Agreement to a filing date in the United States other than the date of international registration, the applicant may petition the Director under 37 CFR 1.1023(b) to accord the international design application a filing date in the United States other than the date of international registration. Such petition must be accompanied by the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(f) and include a showing to the satisfaction of the Director that the international design application is entitled to such filing date.

Jump to MPEP Source · 37 CFR 1.1023(b)Hague DefinitionsDesignation of United StatesInternational Design Application Fees
Topic

Designation of United States

5 rules
StatutoryRequiredAlways
[mpep-2908-1ad3dffa6561bc7e9749d56f]
Filing Date Is Effective Registration For International Design Applications
Note:
The filing date for an international design application in the United States is considered to be its effective registration date, unless otherwise specified.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the filing date of an international design application in the United States shall be the effective registration date. Notwithstanding the provisions of this part, any international design application designating the United States that otherwise meets the requirements of chapter 16 may be treated as a design application under chapter 16.

Jump to MPEP SourceDesignation of United StatesFiling Date RequirementsInternational Design Application Filing
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2908-5f90fb79b64238330dc61f40]
Designating US Applications May Be Treated as Chapter 16 Applications
Note:
An international design application designating the United States that meets chapter 16 requirements may be treated as a chapter 16 application, despite other provisions.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (b), the filing date of an international design application in the United States shall be the effective registration date. Notwithstanding the provisions of this part, any international design application designating the United States that otherwise meets the requirements of chapter 16 may be treated as a design application under chapter 16.

Jump to MPEP SourceDesignation of United StatesInternational Design Application FilingInternational Design Applications
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2908-6af76c760126347e4124c7d4]
Request for Review of International Design Application Filing Date in US
Note:
An applicant can request the Director to review the filing date of their international design application in the United States. The Director may determine a different filing date and establish procedures, including payment of a surcharge.

(b) REVIEW.—An applicant may request review by the Director of the filing date of the international design application in the United States. The Director may determine that the filing date of the international design application in the United States is a date other than the effective registration date. The Director may establish procedures, including the payment of a surcharge, to review the filing date under this section. Such review may result in a determination that the application has a filing date in the United States other than the effective registration date.

Jump to MPEP SourceDesignation of United StatesFiling Date RequirementsInternational Design Application Filing
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2908-47e30d949887f2d77511c264]
Director May Set Filing Date for International Design Application
Note:
The Director can determine a filing date for an international design application in the United States that differs from its effective registration date.

(b) REVIEW.—An applicant may request review by the Director of the filing date of the international design application in the United States. The Director may determine that the filing date of the international design application in the United States is a date other than the effective registration date. The Director may establish procedures, including the payment of a surcharge, to review the filing date under this section. Such review may result in a determination that the application has a filing date in the United States other than the effective registration date.

Jump to MPEP SourceDesignation of United StatesFiling Date RequirementsInternational Design Application Filing
StatutoryPermittedAlways
[mpep-2908-a583ec66d3bf2b6d5b25f008]
Director May Establish Review Procedures for Filing Date
Note:
The Director can create procedures, including a surcharge payment, to review the filing date of an international design application in the United States. This may result in a determination that the application has a filing date different from its effective registration date.

(b) REVIEW.—An applicant may request review by the Director of the filing date of the international design application in the United States. The Director may determine that the filing date of the international design application in the United States is a date other than the effective registration date. The Director may establish procedures, including the payment of a surcharge, to review the filing date under this section. Such review may result in a determination that the application has a filing date in the United States other than the effective registration date.

Jump to MPEP SourceDesignation of United StatesFiling Date RequirementsInternational Design Application Filing

Citations

Primary topicCitation
Hague Definitions35 U.S.C. § 381(a)(5)
Hague Definitions35 U.S.C. § 384
Hague Definitions35 U.S.C. § 384(a)
Hague Definitions35 U.S.C. § 384(b)
Hague Definitions37 CFR § 1.1023(b)
Hague Definitions37 CFR § 1.17(f)

Source Text from USPTO’s MPEP

This is an exact copy of the MPEP from the USPTO. It is here for your reference to see the section in context.

BlueIron Last Updated: 2025-12-31