The critical part is Section 181, which specifically refers to the issuance of an order of secrecy on a patent for national security reasons, and is intended to preclude a patent holder from disclosing the details of an invention where such disclosure would impair national security. For example, there are patents which remain secret to this day in respect to various nuclear technologies. This section is also intended to preclude a inventor from obtaining a patent and then denying the government access to the benefits derived therefrom, particularly during wartime.
It is very restrictive, at least in practice, although I feel that the language should be tightened so as to preclude the possibility of abuse. The Act also provides that the inventor must be compensated, and that if the inventor feels that the proposed compensation is inadequate, a suit may be brought in United States Claims Court, both in terms of losses by virtue of an order of secrecy and/or the use of the invention by the government. John P. Baker -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tony Harminc Sent: Monday, December 31, 2007 12:53 PM To: IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU Subject: Re: It keeps getting uglier On Mon, 31 Dec 2007 09:44:26 -0500, John P. Baker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Um, well... Sections 181-188 of the US patent act provide for just about what you say can't happen. The US government can not only take your invention, but can suppress its publication, and fine you $10,000 and/or put you in jail for two years if you talk about it, first amendment be dammed. Tony H. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
