---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 2569"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "2569"
heading: "Nonresident proprietors; service and notice"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/2569"
units:
  - "Chapter 57 — Plant Variety Protection"
  - "Subchapter III — Plant Variety Protection and Rights"
  - "Part L — Remedies for Infringement of Plant Variety Protection, and Other Actions"
---

# §2569. Nonresident proprietors; service and notice


Every owner not residing in the [United States](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-9) may file in the Plant [Variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) Protection Office a written designation stating the name and address of a [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) residing within the [United States](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-9) on whom may be served process or notice of proceedings affecting the plant [variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) protection or rights thereunder. If the [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) designated cannot be found at the address given in the last designation, or if no [person](/usc/7/499a.md?p=b-1) has been designated, the [United States](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-9) District Court for the District of Columbia shall have jurisdiction and summons shall be served by publication or otherwise as the court directs. The court shall have the same jurisdiction to take any action respecting the plant [variety](/usc/7/2401.md?p=a-10) protection, or rights thereunder that it would have if the owner were personally within the jurisdiction of the court.


## Source credit

(Pub. L. 91–577, title III, § 129, Dec. 24, 1970, 84 Stat. 1557.)