Which of the following can serve as a 102(e) date for an international application?

The correct answer is that the earliest priority date of an international application can serve as a 102(e) date if it is filed correctly. Under U.S. patent law, specifically 35 U.S.C. 102(e), a patent application that has been published in a manner that satisfies international standards can have its earliest priority date used as its effective filing date. This is crucial because it allows an applicant to claim the benefit of an earlier filing date, provided that the earlier application was filed correctly and meets all necessary requirements.

This principle is particularly significant when considering prior art, as it can determine what constitutes relevant prior art against later applications. The ability to utilize the earliest priority date can strengthen a patent applicant's position regarding patentability by potentially distancing their invention from other disclosures that occurred after that date.

In this context, the other options do not correctly align with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 102(e). Filing in a language other than English does not affect the applicability of the priority date if the international application meets the necessary requirements for recognition. Similarly, the submission date of an initial application and the date fees are paid do not independently establish a 102(e) date, as these elements do not confer the same entitlement to priority as