Patents
Why the Navy Patents Its Inventions
The government's interest in patents parallels that of private industry even
though the government does not compete in the commercial market. The government
obtains patents for two (2) reasons:
- The first is for defensive purposes. A patent owned by the government
precludes another from obtaining a patent on the same invention and asserting it
against the government when it purchases the invention from a different party.
- The second reason is that a patent may be used to transfer technology
developed with government research and development funds to the public and
private sector. The patent which the government receives may be licensed to
interested parties who agree to commercialize the invention for the benefit of
the general public.
There are two major sources of inventions in which the Department of the Navy
acquires rights for the benefit of the government:
- The first is from its military personnel and civilian employees, primarily
those who work in laboratories or are involved in research and development
activities.
- A second source is from contractors/grantees performing work under Navy
research and development contracts/grants.
The government may acquire either a license to use these inventions or full
ownership of the inventions, depending upon the circumstances. Each federal
agency is authorized by statute to license federally-owned patent applications,
patents and other forms of protection obtained either on a royalty-free or
royalty-bearing basis. The statute authorizes the granting of nonexclusive,
exclusive or partially exclusive licenses. The Secretary of Commerce is
authorized to promulgate regulations specifying terms and conditions upon which
federally-owned inventions, other than inventions awarded by the Tennessee
Valley Authority, may be licensed.
The following are Indian Head Division patents available for
licensing.