Author: GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE WASHINGTON DC RESOURCES COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIV.

Publisher:

Published: 1984

Total Pages: 46

ISBN-13:

The Patent and Trademark Amendments of 1980 (Public Law 96-517) established a uniform patent policy for small businesses and nonprofit organizations that gives them, with limited exceptions, the option to retain title to inventions resulting from federally sponsored research projects. This is the second annual report submitted by the Comptroller General on how federal agencies are carrying out this law. Major federal research and development agencies have incorporated provisions of the law and Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance into their procurement regulations to ensure uniform implementation throughout the agencies. Only two agencies--the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)--have reported determinations to withhold from certain inventors the rights to inventions resulting from agency-sponsored projects.