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REF ID:A4161584 

820 CONGRESS 

lST SESSION 

- IN THJ~ SBNA'l1E OF 'rHJ~ UNITJ1J1) S'rATBS 

.JuLY 10 (legislative day, .J UXE 27), l!Hil 

:i\fr. RussEJ,L (by req11est) intrnduced the following bill; whieh was read twiee 

and l'eferred to the Cnmrllitlec on the ,J11dicial'y 

·A BILL 

':l1o pr~vide for tl1e withholding of certain patents that might '.be .. . detrimental to the national security, nnd for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the 8 enale and Howse of Rep1'e8enta2 t·ives of the Un·i.led States of America ·in Con,rp~ess assmnbled, 

3 'r\rnt whenever publication or disclosure by· the grant o~ a 

4 patent on an invention m which the -- Government )ms a. 

- .. .~ ,J:::: _ - . "J ~ .} ... L. - . ' !~, - ._)_:~. 

5 , property intei·est might, m the opinion of the head of_ the 

-n:mO lc1 • 

6 interested Government <1g-ency, be detrin~ental to the national - I 

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7- security, the Secretary of Connirnrce i:lpon being so notified 

8 ~hall order that such in vontion be kort secret and shall 'ivi~h-:-

- - 9 hold tho grant of n. patent therefor under tho conditions ·set 

10 _ forth hereinafter. 

11 'Vhenevor the publication or disclosure of an invention 
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REF ID:A4161584 

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1 by the granti11g of a patent, within categories prescribed by 

2 the President and in which the Government does not have a 

3 property inte,rest, might, in the o.rinion of the Secretaty- of 

4 Commerce, be detrimei1tal to the national security, he shall 

5 rna.ke the ap1~li~l'._l1i~~~J2r_ paj;ent_ i12_,~4i9Q_ such invention is 

6 disclosed avnilnble for inspection to the Atomic Energy Com7 mission, the Secretary of Defense, and the chief officer ·of . . 

8. any other department or agency of the Government desig9 nnted by the President as a defense agency .of the United 

10 States; and each ·individunl to 'vhom the application is dis11 closed shall .sign a elated acknowledgment thereof, which 

12 acknowledgment shall he entered in the :file of the applica~ 

.13 tion. If, __ in the opinion of the Atomic Energy . Com14 mission, the Secretary of Defense, or the chief officer of such 

15 other department or agency so design~ted, the publication 

16 or discfosure of such invention by the granting of a. patent 

17 ~.berefor would he d~trimental to the national security, the .· ': 

18 Atomic ErieTgY Cop1m.ission, the Secretary of .Defense, _or 

19 such ~tbe1: chief. offi_cer_ sha]] notify the Secreta.ry of ~~hrr1-

:w -n_ierce to tl~at effect, a~d the Secretary of. Commerce, nppn 

21 bE'._jng so notified, shall order that such invention he kept 

_2~. _ ::ecrct ·and shall. v;rith~old the grant of a patent therefor for .• 

23 such period or periods as the national interest require~ and 

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24 upo~1 proper show~ng by the h~ad of any department .or .. - .,... . . . 

25 μ,gency, who caused such. secrecy order to be issued, that 

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-REF ID :A4161584 

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1 the examination of the : application might jeopardize the 

2 national interest, then the Secretary of Commerce shall 

3 immediately -seal such application. r:rhe ·owner. of a. ·patent 

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application which has been placed under a secrecy order· shall 

ha,;e a right to appeal from such order to such agency arid -

under ·such rules as may be prescribed by the President. No 

invention shall be ordered kept secret and the· grant. of'a 

, patent withheld for a period of more than one year: Pi'0- 1 

'v·ided, That the Secretary of Commerce shall renew any sdch 

order at the end thereof, or at the end ·of any .rene-\val ·periotf, 

for additional periods of one year upon notification· by th:e 

head of the department or the chief officer of the agency vd10 

caused the order to be issued that an. affini1a.tive determi1)~1\. 

tiol-1 has been made that the national interest contimies soto 

· require, excepting, bowevei·, that an.)' su.ch -order. in cffoct, 

or issued, during a time when the United States is at wh1\ 

. shall be and remain in effect for the duratio1i -of-- hostiliti·e;s 

18 and a period of one year following cessation of hosdlitie's 

19 unless sooner specifically i:escinded: ':L1be Secretary ·of Coin20 merce is authorized to rescind any order upon notification 

21 by 'the heads of all departments and the -chief officers· of a.ll 

22 . agencies who caused 'the. oi·der to be1 issiiecl that the pub]i~a~ 

23 tion or disclosure of the inventioi1 is no longer cle'ei1rnd to be 

24 detrimental to the. national secnrity. 

25 S1~c. 2. rrhe invention disclosed m ai1 application fi:h· 
REF ID:A4161584 

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1 patent subject to an order ma,de pmsuant to section 1 hereof 

2 may be held abandoned upon its being established before 

3 or bv the Secretnrv of Cormnerce that in violation of said . •' - •' 

4 order said invention has been published or disclosed or that 

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an application for a patent therefor has been filed in a foreign country by the inventor,· his successors, assigns, or legal 

representatives, or anyone iii privity 'ivith him or them, 

withollt the consent or ap!)roval of tlie Secretary of Commerce, and any such abandonment shall be l1ekl to have 

occurred as of the time of such viola ti on: Prov·i.decl, rrhat in 

no case ·shall the consent or approval of the Secretary of 

12 Cmnmerce be given without the concurrence ot the heads 

13 of all departments and the chiefs officers of all agencies ,,~ho 

14 caused the order to be issued. Any snch holding of almnclon15 ment shall constitute forfeiture by the applicant, his ·~me=-

16 cessors, assigns, or lega.] representatives, or auyone in privity 

17 with him or thein, of all clnirns against the United States 

18 based npon such invention. 

19 SEC. 3. Any applicant, his successors, ttss1gns, or legal 

20 representatives, whose patent is withheld as hei:ein provided, 

21 shall, if the order of the Secretary of Cornrnerce above re22 . ferred to shall have been foithfnlly obeyed, have the right, 

23 dming a period beginning nt the date the applicirnt is notified. 

24. l t mt, except for such order, bis a,pplication is otherwise in 

condition for allownnce, or beginning nt the effective date 

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REF ID:A4161584 

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1· · 'of this Act, whichever is ·later; and:-endillg. tw.o: y,eai;s~a;ftei: _ 

2 -':the aa~e a· pat~nt is issue4. on·_such .. application;:to._applyi fof: 

~-_,.. ·compens~tion' for the dainage accruing by_1:eason ·of the,orde£ 

4 _of secrecy' and/<fr for Jl~e _use,jf .any, _oLthe:iriV,ention,~oyrthe5 : . Go,~e~~nnien_t, if the G~vernment'.s. t\se i·esult~d from.;,the 

'6 applicant's clisclostire; such right to comp:ens;ition. 'for. use t8 

7 beg~n from the.-d~te of the fiist t1se Of_ t}:ie:;inven~ion :by~ the 

8 . _Government: The.Jiea_d of any;_ clepartmei1t_ or_ agency .-who 

9. caused tf~e .ord'er to be. issu¢c!._is autho1;izecl;: ifra11:Y,:such,claim -

10 _is p'resentec1 within· the:_ peti~d abo:ve_ specified, t{Lei1ter jnt&.'.: 

11 ai1 agreei'neht with said applicirnt, his' successors·, 'assigns, of r 

12. legal representatives,_ ip. full set_tlen1ent' and comp'rdni.ise, fdri 

13 · _such ··c1amage: and/or use,· if any,. an~l- any~ such_ settlemeiitt 

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' agreement' entered into:.shalLhe final and. concliisiye ·for all~ 

purposes,- notwithstandii1g any _o~her piovision of _law. to: the= 

co'ntrary. · If full coin promise and settlement· oC any. such': 

claim cannot be effected, tlie ·heacl' of_ any ·clepa~tme1it oi".: 

agency 'vh9 caused- the ordet to be' ·issued,_ may,' ill his dis,.': 

cr~tion, administratively aw·atcl' and- .pay.~ tO such-.-applicant/ 

20 'his successors,-'assig_J.is, .oi· -legal i·epresehtatives;~ a-Jm:in not: 

21 ·exceeding 75:per centum <?fthe maximum sum; iU1ny;:whicfr~ 

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22, . i;n t~rn opinion. of the'· _head, ol such depaitinent- _or· ag.ency.: 

2~-~: woql'.d" Gonstit'u_te fair and j\{sf compe1isation foi~-such cla1img'e''. 

24- an_d/pr ·use, jf any: Within two ·years: att~r· isshance-~'of -a: 

. s·; 1s27---" 2 _ .. • I • " .~' • • 

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REF ID:A4161584 

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1 patent, any claimant who fails to secure an a\vard satisfac2 · tory to him shall have the right to bring suit against the 

3 United States in the Court of Claims for such arnou11t whicl1, 

4 · when added to such award, if any, shall constitute fair and 

5 just compensation for the damage and/or use, if any, of the 

6 · invention by the Government. The owner of any patent 

7 · issued upon an application that was snbject to a secrecy order 

8 issued pursuant to section 1 hereof, and who faithfully obeyed 

9 · the order, who did not apply for compensation as above 

10 provided, shall have the right, within two years after the 

11 date of issuance of such patent, to bring suit in the Court . 

12 of Claims for fair ai1d just compensation for the damage 

l3 accruing to him by reason of the order of secrecy and/or 

14 use by the Government of the patented invention, sncb right 

15 · to compensation for use, provided such use resulted from the 

16 applicant's disclosure, to begin at the first date of such use. 

17 In any suit under the 'provisions of this· section, and in any 

18 negotiations concerning settlement and compromise of any 

19 such claim, the United States may avail itself of any and 

20 all defenses· that may be pleaded by it in an action under 

21 title 28, United States Code, section 1498, as amended. 

22 This section shall not confer -a right of action on anyone or 

23 his st1ccessor or assignee who, when he makes such a claim, 

24 - is in the employmeiit Oi' service of the United s·tates, or 

25 who, while in the employment or service of the United States, 
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REF ID:A4161584 

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3'~:h·-1 ,:_8Ee.z4~:No,·pensoff sh~lLfile .or _cau.se.··orcauthorize::to be 

4to:~.file:d-f.in ·:aily>:;foreig1E:countr¥:--itn~applicatio1i foi· patent~ or foi· 

f)g:::. 'the_;registration Of: a. .. ~utilit¥o·model,:industriah d~sig.n:; or. mod~l 

6:'..,irr respec't ·of :a.ny.·ipv:entiol}· made !in :the't United;States prioJ.; 

7'Y: tO: rimet~ days -~fter. filiilg;ui..the United-:_States :air application 

8 :'.; ~c<;ryerillg :: such -~invention; _'except wlierr: authorized ~in'. each 

9.ri·cii.se\ by a:license: obtained Jrom .the .Seqretacy ·9£: Oommerc~ 

lO·c· ·ungei;·_suc4 rule~_;an:d.-iegnlations· as; he shall. preseribe::. Pro-:.: 

11. vided;;That,no:~sttch_ license .s}J.all .be· g~·anted .with. respect to:: 

12 .any invention which .. is: the .. subject: matter" of: a -subsisting·: 

13 :::: order: ·issued· by the1 .Se9refar.w ·of; Con:1merce-·pursuant to secii c 

14» '.·ti off~ 1 . heteof ~without: :the concmn~er:icec. of the ~heads . of a.Ir 

23, · · ~SEb:": 5.'.:: N ot~vithstandfog,,the nrovisions :Of secti'o;1s''488ff: 

24, and4SB7 oLthei:•Revised !Statutes {35>U. 8;' o.,- secs.~~31 ·and.--: 

25 32) , ani pei·son,-:and,~the' ·succe·ssors,"\assigns; en: leg'D:Lrepr~.:.-'. 
REF ID:A4161584 

1·: Umntatives~ oLany su'ch'. pe,rson,Jshall .b'e debari·ed from1-receiv£ 

2· ing a United States patent for an inventiou,ifc-such:J:»e1lson, or. 

?c'. suchisuccessors;~ assigns, 'of' legal represfntativ'es:shall, withs 

4: ,l out :proct!ring the authprizatiol! •]?rescrib~.d. in-lse~tioni4fhereof,. 

5;;;·have} m~de;r1or,;·conserited~ to:~·otiassisted ariothe(~r:making~ 

~<·,~pplication.: ill; a: fo1:eign · c'ount11" ,for .ajpatent 'or for._~he regis~ 

r:J. j tration; of ·:a· utility-. model;_ industrial. design; -.or. n;todeli ill re~ 

~. c.-spedt of:shcn:invention W·l.iere .authorizatfon 'for· sucli.applica~ 

~:: tiowis:~required·_by.:the provisions .ofsectionA·lieTeo.fj and.·any 

10:' .'·s_uch_UnitecJ States patent, actual!y·issued to.any suckpers011;.~ 

lJ-; J1is~succ_ess.ors, .assigp.s,;_ '.or]egal ,rep1:esentativ.es: so'debah:ed oi .. :: 

12 b . 1 b d h ·n·b . ' i·a .. r , ' •. ~: eco111mg~ce arre ·s a, e mva1 .. ·i il,, i,,,'y~,-11 :.··: , ___ . _, . 

1.3 ~,:: :< _SEQ.·. 6-~.1Whoever,'dtlring. the pe'riod-or . .Peifods :of.time aii'. 

1_4i·~ i_rtveiltio_il has been·:01:dered:to be kept se'cret and·the grant of: 

l}!:_-._i:,pate)1t ther_eOJ?. "rithhe}d ptfrsuimt 'to section' 1 •hereof, shall;_·: 

16c;·i)~it_b·_ kno_'Y,fodge_ ·oLsuch_: oi'.der.mnd _,vithoi1t ·due: authorizatio1i~ '-

11, . :wj:llfully :.publish::o1"_,disclose. _or; authorize or caus'e to -.lie ·pub~'"-': 

1§,_;JJis_h~d_:_OL·djs_closed:.such: in.~ehtion;['or any. matei-ial infoi'ma::_"_ 

19 tion with respect thereto, or whoever,: ih r:violation ~:of: the-" 

2-1..: ;::_t_? i ._p~ :fi~e:d;· i11. -any .. fo1~eigri: .. coillitry·: a~i: application: foi: patent· . 

22 or for the registration .bf. W'utility ;:iriodel;.indttstrial design, oi~: ... 

23- ·i:p.odel ~i~ r~sp~ct :of anY. in've!Jtion 1made:in: the ;U nitea States;: .. · 

24, -.shall;- :i,,pqn :c.onyicfron\ be;:fined ~-not 'more'. than.· $10,000 or:: 
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REF ID:A4161584 

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SEC. 7. rrhe prohibitions and penalties ·of this Act. shall 

not apply to any officer or agent of the United States acting 

within the scope of his authority, nor to any person acting 

upon the written instructions of, or in reliance on the written 

permission or ad vice of, any such officer or agent. 

SEC. 8. 'rhe Atornic :Energy Comrnission, the Secretary 

of Defense, the chief officer of any other depa.rtment or 

agency of the. Government designated by the President ns 

a defense agency of the United States, and the Secretary 

10 of Commerce, may separately iss~rn such rules and i·egula.-

11 tions as may be necessary and proper to enable the respective 

12. department or agency to carry out the provisions of this Act;, 

13 and in addition a.re authorized, under such rules and regu- · 

14 lat.ions as ead1 may prescribe, to delegate and provide for 

15 the redelegation within their respective depart.merits or a gen~ 

16 cies of any power or authority conferred by this Act to stich 

17 responsible officers, boards, agents, or ·persons as each _may 

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designate or appoint. 

. SEC. 9. If any prnvision of this Act or of any secti01~1 

hereof or the application of such provision to any person or 

circumstance shall be held invalid, the remainder of t.l1e 

Act and of such section and application of such provision t.o 

persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is 

held invalid shall not be affected t1iereby. 

·SEC. 10. 'l1he Acts of Congress approved October 6, 

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REF ID:A4161584 

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1 1917 (ch. 95, 40 Stat. 394) ; July 1, 1940 (ch. 501, 54 

2 Stat. 710) ; August 21, 1941 . (ch. 393, 55 Stat. 657) ; and 

3 . June 16, 1942. (ch. 415, 56 Stat. 370) (U. S. C., title 

· 4 35, secs. 42 and 42a to 42f), are repealed, but such repeal 

5 shall not affoct an)r rights or liabilities existing on the date 

. 6 of this Act. · Any oi·der of secrecy heretofore issued under 

7 said repealed Acts, and subsisting on the date of the approval 

8 of this Act, shall be· considered as an order issued pursuant 

9 to this Act and shall continue in force and effect for a period 

10 of one year from the effective date of this Act unless sooner 

11 rescinded as provided herein. Any claim arising under said 

12 repealed Acts and unsettled as of the effective date of this 

13 .Act, the provisions of any other Act or Acts to the contrary 

14 . notwithstanding, rnay be ·presented and determined pursuant 

-15 to the provisions of section- 3 ·hereof. 

16 SEC. 11. ·Nothing. in tliis Act shall be construed to alter, 

17 amend, revoke, repeal, or otherwise afiect the provisions of 

18 · the Atomic Energy Act of 1946 ( 60 Stat. 755, as amended). 

19 SEC. 12. This Act may be cited as "The Patent. Seci·ecy 

20 Act of 1951". 
820 CONGRE:O:S 

· lsT Srnsro" s .. 1827 

ABILL 

To provide for the withholding of certain patents that might be detrimental to' the national security, and for other purposes. 

By Mr. RussEr,L 

;Jur.Y 10 (legis1<1ti\:e clay, ;Ju"-"E 27), 1D51 

Head t:11·iee a11d ref1)1Terl to lhe Con1111ittee 011 the 

.lnd\ciary