FEDERAL · 18 U.S.C. · Chapter 25
Letters patent
18 U.S.C. § 497
Title18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Chapter25 — COUNTERFEITING AND FORGERY
This text of 18 U.S.C. § 497 (Letters patent) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Bluebook
18 U.S.C. § 497.
Text
Whoever falsely makes, forges, counterfeits, or alters any letters patent granted or purporting to have been granted by the President of the United States; or
Whoever passes, utters, or publishes, or attempts to pass, utter, or publish as genuine, any such letters patent, knowing the same to be forged, counterfeited or falsely altered—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.
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Related
Dowling v. United States
473 U.S. 207 (Supreme Court, 1985)
United States v. Perry Reich
479 F.3d 179 (Second Circuit, 2007)
Stephen Wyden v. Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
807 F.2d 934 (Federal Circuit, 1986)
United States v. Cowan
116 F.3d 1360 (Tenth Circuit, 1997)
RODRIGUEZ-VALENCIA v. Holder
652 F.3d 1157 (Ninth Circuit, 2011)
Source Credit
History
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 712; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147.)
Editorial Notes
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §71 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §27, 35 Stat. 1094).
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §71 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §27, 35 Stat. 1094).
Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.
Changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".
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Bluebook (online)
18 U.S.C. § 497, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/usc/18/497.