18 U.S.C. § 497 creates a the felony crime of forging a patent document. According to the statute:
“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--
The punishment is “not more than ten years” of federal prison. I was unable to find any reported decisions that apply or even interpret Section 497. Unlike the marking statute, there is no provision that would allow a private action against under this statute.
A general fraud claim would create standing for a civil action. However, the plaintiff would need to show particular harm — unlike a Section 292 plaintiff.
