---
kind: "section"
citation: "35 U.S.C. § 33"
title: "35"
title_heading: "Patents"
number: "33"
heading: "Unauthorized representation as practitioner"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/35/33"
units:
  - "Part I — United States Patent and Trademark Office"
  - "Chapter 3 — Practice Before Patent and Trademark Office"
---

# §33. Unauthorized representation as practitioner


Whoever, not being recognized to practice before the Patent and Trademark Office, holds himself out or permits himself to be held out as so recognized, or as being qualified to prepare or prosecute applications for patent, shall be fined not more than $1,000 for each offense.


## Source credit

(July 19, 1952, ch. 950, 66 Stat. 796; Pub. L. 93–596, § 1, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949.)

## Notes

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on Title 35, U.S.C., 1946 ed., § 11a (May 9, 1938, ch. 188, 52 Stat. 342).

This is a criminal statute. The language has been considerably simplified and the upper limit of the penalty is increased.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1975—Pub. L. 93–596 substituted “Patent and Trademark Office” for “Patent Office”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### 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 under section 1111 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.