§2181. Inventions relating to atomic weapons, and filing of reports

(a) Denial of patent; revocation of prior patents

No patent shall hereafter be granted for any invention or discovery which is useful solely in the utilization of special nuclear material or atomic energy in an atomic weapon. Any patent granted for any such invention or discovery is revoked, and just compensation shall be made therefor.

(b) Denial of rights; revocation of prior rights

No patent hereafter granted shall confer any rights with respect to any invention or discovery to the extent that such invention or discovery is used in the utilization of special nuclear material or atomic energy in atomic weapons. Any rights conferred by any patent heretofore granted for any invention or discovery are revoked to the extent that such invention or discovery is so used, and just compensation shall be made therefor.

(c) Report of invention to Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks

Any person who has made or hereafter makes any invention or discovery useful in the production or utilization of special nuclear material or atomic energy, shall file with the Commission a report containing a complete description thereof unless such invention or discovery is described in an application for a patent filed with the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks by such person within the time required for the filing of such report. The report covering any such invention or discovery shall be filed on or before the one hundred and eightieth day after such person first discovers or first has reason to believe that such invention or discovery is useful in such production or utilization.

(d) Report to Commission by Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks

The Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks shall notify the Commission of all applications for patents heretofore or hereafter filed which, in his opinion, disclose inventions or discoveries required to be reported under subsection (c) of this section, and shall provide the Commission access to all such applications.

(e) Confidential information; circumstances permitting disclosure

Reports filed pursuant to subsection (c) of this section, and applications to which access is provided under subsection (d) of this section, shall be kept in confidence by the Commission, and no information concerning the same given without authority of the inventor or owner unless necessary to carry out the provisions of any Act of Congress or in such special circumstances as may be determined by the Commission.

(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, §151, as added Aug. 30, 1954, ch. 1073, §1, 68 Stat. 943 ; amended Sept. 6, 1961, Pub. L. 87–206, §§7–9, 75 Stat. 477 ; Jan. 2, 1975, Pub. L. 93–596, §3, 88 Stat. 1949 ; renumbered title I, Oct. 24, 1992, Pub. L. 102–486, title IX, §902(a)(8), 106 Stat. 2944 .)

Prior Provisions

Provisions similar to this section were contained in section 1811(a) of this title, prior to the general amendment and renumbering of act Aug. 1, 1946, by act Aug. 30, 1954.

Amendments

1961-Pub. L. 87–206, §7, substituted provision concerning inventions relating to atomic weapons and filing of reports for provision relating to military utilization in section catchline.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 87–206, §8, struck out designation as cl. (1) of provision relating to production or utilization of special nuclear material or atomic energy and cls. (2) and (3) relating to utilization of special nuclear material in an atomic weapon and utilization of atomic energy in an atomic weapon, respectively, and substituted "the one hundred and eightieth day" for "whichever of the following is the later: either the ninetieth day after completion of such invention or discovery; or the ninetieth day".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 87–206, §9, added subsec. (e).

Change of Name

References to Commissioner of Patents changed to Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks pursuant to Pub. L. 93–596, §3, Jan. 2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1949 , set out as a note under section 1 of Title 35, Patents.

Transfer of Functions

Atomic Energy Commission abolished and functions transferred by sections 5814 and 5841 of this title. See also Transfer of Functions notes set out under those sections.

Emergency Relief From Postal Situation Affecting Atomic Energy Cases

Excusal of delayed fees or actions affected by postal situation beginning on Mar. 18, 1970, and ending on or about Mar. 30, 1970, see note set out under section 111 of Title 35, Patents.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 2187, 2190 of this title.