35 USC 205: Patent records
About This Project
This project uses data compiled by the Sunshine in Government initiative, a coalition of journalism and transparency groups. SGI compiled data from federal agency annual FOIA reports to track how often b(3) exemptions were used. SGI also standardized the exemptions since some agencies used slightly different citations of the same laws. In some cases, agencies listed general laws without specifying a section under which information was withheld. This project does not include information from agencies that use no b(3) exemptions in 2008 or 2009. ProPublica compiled information about FOIA denials.
| Department | Claims |
|---|---|
| Dept. of Veterans Affairs | 15.0 |
| National Aeronautics and Space Administration | 1.0 |
TITLE 35--PATENTS
PART II--PATENTABILITY OF INVENTIONS AND GRANT OF PATENTS
CHAPTER 18--PATENT RIGHTS IN INVENTIONS MADE WITH FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
Sec. 205. Confidentiality
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.
(Added Pub. L. 96-517, Sec. 6(a), Dec. 12, 1980, 94 Stat. 3023.)