Federal agencies are authorized to withhold from disclosure to the public information disclosing any invention in which the Federal Government owns or may own a right, title, or interest (including a nonexclusive license) for a reasonable time in order for a patent application to be filed. Furthermore, Federal agencies shall not be required to release copies of any document which is part of an application for patent filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or with any foreign patent office.
35 U.S.C. § 205
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATESection effective July 1, 1981, but implementing regulations authorized to be issued earlier, see section 8(f) of Pub. L. 96-517 set out as an Effective Date of 1980 Amendment note under section 41 of this title.
- invention
- The term "invention" means any invention or discovery which is or may be patentable or otherwise protectable under this title or any novel variety of plant which is or may be protectable under the Plant Variety Protection Act ( 7 U.S.C. 2321 et seq.).
- United States
- The terms "United States" and "this country" mean the United States of America, its territories and possessions.