.... 

REF ID:A104680 

.lSSIS?AW? S~CRETARY or D:tr~NSI 

Waahi~ton 25. D. c. 

\ ' \ I· 

Dear ~r. Speaker: 

'thera 1a forwarded herewith a dr. :ti; and eectional a.nal,ysia ot 

pro1i.,u4 le&1•le.tion. "To proYide tor \he "1.thhold1~ of certain 

patent• that might be dotrimental to the national eecur1t71 and 

for oth~r purpoaea." 

!?his propoaal is a part ot the l>e,i'Artment of Defense Lee;hlativo l'rograiu ~or 1951, and it haa been a:\proftd 'b-J' the 311rean of 

t~~ lhl.ddot. Tho Depart~ont of Defense recommenda that it be enacted 

b°.f the Congreaa. 

~/ -

PQmg,11 Qf tre .~egia11JUou1 The i>oaed legislation is deeignec!. 

where national 1ac"rit," d1ctatea& (a) 1nta1n certain 

inventlona in a eecret category and t revept diecloaurea the~eot; (b} to p~ov1de tor conpen ion \o vcntors where patenta 

are withheld; and Cc> to pro•14• .tie• for Y1olat1ons of secrecy. 

'?emporaey 'W~·rti: e legblation ow prevente the dhcloeu.re ot 

inventions, the 'Wl'ongtul. uae o er. ~uld bo detri~ental to the 1ecu~i\7 of tre United Stat vll erm1nato 'lid.th the formal conclna1on of World War II. xpi t1on ot the temporary la~. 

\here would "1x1 v1rtuall.7 nrest ~ted acceaa to ~atented 1oient1f1c 

a.nil teohnical advancsm"ent . l rpear11 1 therefore, to be Titnlly 

important to naUon ecu o have 1uch pe:rmanont le&11lat1on. 

-¥¥_.~&Aoil~~::..:&1~..,_ "'nactuient ot tbi• bill vlll prev1m1; .,....... ....... .J""'""'.L- pereons who firttt appl7 for patent• in 

the United State• tr . availing themaolvGe o~ the twel.Te-month pr1o~1t7 poriod afforded ~ Article 4 ot the lnte:rnat1onal Convention 

for t~e Protection ot Indu•tr1al rroper.t71 as rev1eed at London 

in l9J4, with reapect \o U1' invention.a kept aaoret under order o~ 

'he SccretaJ'y ot Comn:erce for a period longer than t~olve months 

follov1n& f 111n,g of tho patent application 1n the United Sta\ea. 

T State Departw.cn\ advitoa. in 1te opinion, that enactment of the 

n ted Statea vith rewpect to the lntorna\1onal ConTentlon agree• 

mont above referred to, and other •~ch agree~ nte. 1he Executive 

111 would o nTO Ye v o a on ot the c te oltlii:> 

apar renta v1 avor azr.endn en of interna.t1onal a1roeren,11, which 

vou.ld be attecthd °ti" enactir.ent ot the bill, 1n order to secure to 

.lmarlcan 1nventora the pri\'ile&e• presentl7 accorded to them lW' 

f'or&iOL countries. Howenr, even 1t the neces•ar.r amendments. to 

the 1ntc~national acree~enta should not be forthco~tne, the Executive Depart~onta favor enaetmont ot thta bill becaute of th& 1Jl1>ortance to the National Defenee ot the obJectivea ,f the bill. and 

·- ---.... ·-·-- ·l!\pproved for Release by NSA on 09-17-2013 pursuantto E.O. 1352a · ·· 
...... 

I / 

i 

·I 

I REF ID:A104680 

beca111e the method• by which the b1111 s obJective• w1ll bo attained 

are believed to be reaaonable. The Congre11 m81' wish to giTe consideration to incluaton 1n the bill aa an element of compen1at1on. 

the lO••• ensuing 'bJ" reason ot the order ot eecre07 1 ot the priority 

pr~iilege and alcy' other advantagea p~eaentl7 afforded b.r interna• 

tional. patent agreeir.enta., The Departn·ent of Defense would not object. to anch conaic!eraUon b11t does not actively aponaor it b··ca11ae 

o~the intane;1ble and speculative nature o1 the darr-ages, if BD.7• 

Lo&i•l<rB Retetencg1t, Legislation 1im1lar to thl1 pr.opoual ,., introduced in the Bl1t Congress (s. 2557 and R. R. 6389) upon 

the recorr.mendation ot the De;artment ot Detenae. The principal 

difference between this bill -1!d the one recommended to the Slat 

Congress 1• 1n the enlarcewent ot the right to appl7 for compensation in the nev proposal to include not only co1Dpensat1on for use o! the 

of the inTention 'hT the GoverD111ent. bu.t also compensation for 8Jl7 

dllll!a&G cause4 by rea•on ot the order of e 

Qgst .Md ,J!tdgot Da\Ar It. ia 1mP, H le to determine the number 

of inventions that 1187 be •ubJected t eey order in the intereat 

of AS.tlo.faa.1-detanae; hence. an ace te est te of the tiecal etreota 

ot thia leg1slai1on cannot be ma 

been ae11gnated •• the represent& 

for \hi.a lechlaUon, 0 The Departnient at the Na'f7 baa 

ot ~he Departnen\ of Detense 

Since:r•l.¥• 

0 Daniel D. Edwards 

Inoloeures 

Honorable Sam RaTba.rn 

Speaker of Ule House of Repreaentativea 

:.. 

~ 

. 

j 

----·- ·------- ·- ·--·-·-
fia;'URA.J. proT1de1 th.a' the Commbaioner ot Patents Jlla7 ordeta 

that certain 1nTent1ons 'Within categor1ea prescribed b,y the Pre11-

dent be k111J>t aeor•t• resardleaa ot wh""ether the Government has prop• 

er\7 1nteres\ tbere1n, whenever publ1ca\1on or diacloaui'& ther_,r 

might be detrlmen\al to the national eeou.rit7. ~he Atomic Inell!' 

Commla•lon. the Secreta17 ot Defenae. and •~oh other chief of~1c•r• 

of other departments or aganc1e1 when designated by the Freaident, 

may initiate action for aeoreo7 when the GoTe1"Dlmn• has a propert7 

interest, or may 1napeot appl1o~t1on1 for patent• on inTentiona in 

which the <lov•l'nment has no property inter.st when referred 'bl' the 

Oommiasloner ot Patenta and detarminea whether •ecrecy is necesaal'1'• 

The period of 1ecreo~ would be one :rear or tor the duration ot ho•-

tili tiet and for one 7ear following cee•at1on of ho1t1li\1ee during 

a ti~e the United Stste1 l• at war, 'bu.t the one year pe~1od lllaJ' be 

reneved l>T tho commi•aioner of Paten'~· the aeoreey clae11ticat1on 

cancelled upon notification that 1ecre~ no lon&er neoe11ary. 

The P~e•1dent would pre1cr1oe reculat r appeal ot eeoret order. 

i1QUP1.L..2 pre>T1dea thatlUon • diaalostire, or f111ng an 

application tor patent 1n a to unt17 after an application tor · patent ha.1 been anbjeoted to a q order and witho11t conHnt of 

the CommiHi"one:r ll:l81' conati tu.te d<>M!ent of the inftxit1on at "he 

tille of such •1olat1~n~ba.n ent shall al10 conetit~te fol'-

fe1 ture of all clai~• nit e Un1te4 States baaed upon 1uch in• 

"nti®~ . 

DIQ\iAD.l~for compeneatlon tor dam&&•• acartiing bz' 

rea.on ot the sec C'¥' o r or tor goYar.nlllent use •nd pre•cr1~• a 

tvo 7ear atatu•e atton. AathoriEe• head ot a1'17 dep•rt~ent 

who cau.sed 1ecrecy o r to 'be l•aued to make tull settlem~n\ tor 

th& 11".axS.num auma vhloh stu.ch d&partmen°' head coneidera a fair a.r.ui 

Just compenaatton~ One Jn87. in ab•ence ot aat11tacto17 award,. 

br1n& 1ui' 1n Court ot Cla1ma, in vhich ca1e Un~ted Statea~llfi' 

ayail itaelt ot all deten•o• proT1ded in 8 u.s.o, 1948. aa &11ond• 

ed. No compenaat1on ehall be paid tor 1ov~rnment uae of an inven•ion 

made ~ an inventor emplol'ed b,r \he Go-yer.'\. . . : , 

.lc;l&pn,.1$ prov1de1 that no pe:raon 8hall file an applic~~~qn in 

a fore1cn country tor a patent or !or the rec1atrat1on of a u~~f~~7· 

Yl"odel, oi- 1ndustr1al deeicn, -prior to ninety dqa l.f'tor f111n& l~ · · 

the United Sta.tea \Ullesa authorized in each oaee ~ a 11cenae :(i.~ini~\ . 

by the Compd.oalone>" ot Patonb. {.:\).;:\ 

f,-.~. 

"\ 

.--::-
') 

/ 

c • 

__ ____ .,. 

REF ID:A104680 

~-~\l~ 5 proTldel that failure \0 &bid~ 'bJ' reruirement Of 

Section 4 ehall aert"e to leba.r per1on1 from receiving United Statea 

patent .. 

§cg\lg; &~rovides penalties tor T1olat1on tor villtul pttb11oat1on or diaolo1ure ot an:r material intorma~ion on matter coverea b,y 

eecre07 order. 

l!A~lon . .Z. e:icept• ofticer1 ol' agents ot the United State•• when 

acting v1th1n the eoope of their authorit7. from prohibitions and 

penaliiee prescribed, and a1m1larl7 •xempts peraona acting u~on their 

written instruction or in reliance on their written persn1aaion or 

advice. 

~·o~oa § anth<>r11e1 ieeuance ot separate re&ulationa 'o enable 

the re•pecti ve d•rartment• Ol" a&encies to carq out \ha provhion1 

or the bill. 

Sca\ign 2 provide• tor continuance~f the Act ahould &»7 part 

hereot be held invalid. ~ 

OclilUrw +,(> repeals pre1e~nbt1\ savca mecreey orders ln11ed 

prior to enactment and cla1ma un t under Act amended. 

Sect~on llprov1dea tha\ at ~nergy Ac\ of 1946. ae amended, 

will not 'be $ffected 'hT th!M_vb us. 

Section 12 p~ovid~~ title for the Act. 

0 
.. REF ID: A104.£.80 

ems HUMBD.S • ASSIGNID TO EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIBS - FC8,lJSE WHEN RBPfil'l'.tNG INVENTiaiS 

Agriculture,, Department ot o o o .. o •• o ••• o • l 

Air rorce ..II Department ot the • .. 0 u 0 .. a 0 0 • 0 • 12 

America Battle Monuments Can:i.saion • o • • .. o o .. hO 

Arrq'" ~t ot the 0 0 0 0 0 • 0 • 0 0 0 0 0 • lO 

Central In~ig~ce Agency .. • .. • • • • o • • o • 27 

Civil Aeronautics Bo8l"d ., • • • • • • .. • • • .. • • 37 

C:l.v11.Se:tvice Canmission ................ o 14 

.Canmerce, Department ot o • • o • .. .. • .. • • o • o 2 

Defense, D~pa.rtiq.ent ot g . 

Office .. ot the Se~taz:y o • .. .. • • • 9 • • o 9 

-Department of the .Air Poree • • • • • .. • 12 

Department of the~ ......... o •••• 10 

Department ot the »av • • .. • • • . • • • • .. ll 

Defense Production Adm:Udstnt.1G11 • • • .. . ... • • • .. 44 

District ot c·oiumbia oonrm9nt • · • .. .. o • .. • • • 47 

lconolld.Q Coo~tion Admin:l.strati'an • • o • • • ., • 24 

Federal Camamnic&t·:l.~s CCllllliseion • • • • • o • • • 17 

Federal Deposit In~e Cotp°"at:t.on • • .. • • .. • lal 

Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service .. • • • • • 3l 

Pederal Power Ccmnisnon .. .. .. · • • • • .. .. .. • • .. .. 21 

Federal Resfrve System. • D • • • • • • • • • • .. • 38 

Federal Securitq .Agency •••. o ., • • • • • .. • • • 6 

Federal Trade CODllliflsion .. • • .. .. o • • • .. • • • • ·2S 

General Services Adlin.te~Uon • .. • .. .. • • • • • 1 

HOllsing and BOii& Finance AgellCf • • • • • • • • • .. 22 

Bou1in1 Exped1ter8 · Of'fice ot the • • .. • • 11 o • • 45 

Interior, Dep..-nt Of the ••• o •• o ••• a • .3 

Interstate CClllllerca Camnieaion • • o • • o • o o • o 26 · · 

Justice, Ddp&rtiment ot o o o o o .. • • o o a • o • • 4 Labor~ Departasnt ot o • o o o o ••• g o • o •• , 16 

National Advia0?7 CClllli ttee tor Aeronautics o • o ! 8 

lat1onal Capital. Houaing·Author:L.t7 o o a o ..... o 42 

lational Capi t&l Park & Planning· Ccmmd.e1ion • • o • 39 

National l4bor Relations Board o o o • • • • • o • 32 

lational H8diation Board. o a o • • • • • • • ·" • • .. h3 

' Haticmal Security' Coancil • o o • • o • o • • • • • 28 

Jlat10nal Secur1 ty Reao'lirce1 Board. o • o o • • o o • 29 1&'97,.Departmen~ ot the · •• o • o o o •• o •••• 11 

Panama Canal,, The o o o o o • o • a o o p • • a o • 46 

Post O.ttice Department o o. o • o o o o o • o o •• l3 

Jl&Uroad Retirement Boa.rd.. o • o o o • • o • • o o • .33 Ree~structiqn Pinance Ccrpqrati~ o • • • • • o • • 18 

Secniri ties le Exchange Ccmnd.a$1"1 • a • • ., o • • o 34 

seJ.ectiV. s.~ce S;r•tea. 0 0 0 0 .• 0 a 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 

Sm1 tl',ls~an I~ti tuti~ • • o • • • .. o • • • o • 23 Sta~, D~t' Of . o o o o o Cl o a o o • o o o o . $ 

Taritt Q~~·~~~ llnU~d. states ; • o o • • o • • • 3S' 

.TeJinecseee 

~ 

V~ .a.uthori tf • • o o o • a o o • o , • l9 l?ep~t 0 o o • a 0 0 0 o D o 0 o O 0 0 • J.5 

V•terana 1dminiatration o ••• " o • o ••• ~ • • 20 

Var CJ.alms Camrd.alic:m • • • • .. .. . o • • o • • • • • 36 

Government Patents Board 

April 26, l95i 
., 

• CODE NOllBERS 

ASSIGNED ~~UiWTill& DEPAftftDTS ARD . .4QENC.tlS 

FOlt U's!: .. 11BD··.REPORT!HG INVENTIONS 

l - Department o£ Agriculture 

2 - Deparwent ot Commerce 

3 - Department ot lnterior 

4 - Dep~tment ot.Ju11tice 

5 - Department of State 

6 - Federal Security A1enc.v 

7 - General Service• Administration 

8 - Rational AdTiaory Committee tor Aeronautic• 

9 - Office ot the Secretary ot Detenee · 10 - Department of the Anq 11 - Department of the Navy 

12 - Department of the Ai~ Force 

13 - Post Of'fi.ce Department 14 - Civil Service Commission 

15 - Treasury Department : .. 16 - Department of Labor 

17 - Federal Communications Com.~ission 

18 - Reconstruction Finance Corporation 

19 - Tennessee Valley Authority 

20 - Veterans Administration 

21 - Federal Power Commission 

Zl - Housing and Home Finance Agency 23 - Smithsonian Institution 

24 - Economic Cooperation Administration 

25 - Federal Trade Com.mission 

26 - Interstate Commerce Commission 

27 - Central Intelligence Agency 

28 - National Security Council 

29 - National Security Resources Board 

JO - Selective Service System Jl - Federal.. Mediation and Conciliation Service 

32 - National Labor Relations Board 

33 - Railroad Retirement Board 

34 - Securities and Exchange Conunission 

35 - United &t~tes Tariff Commission 

36 - War Claims Commission 

37 - Civil Aeronautics Board 

JS -·Federal Reserve S1stem . 39 - National Capit&.l Park: & Planning Commission 

40 - .American Battle Monuments Commission 

• 41 - Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation 

1.2. - National Capital Housing AuthoritY 

43 - National Mediation Board 

44 - Defense Production Administration 

4.5 - Housing Expediter 1 Office of the 

46 - Panama Canal 

47 - District of Columbia Government Government Patents Board 

• · ··Ap~ ·g~if-.'~~l .. :: ... ~. ·