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Chapters:

Property and Equipment

Patents, Patent Rights, and Inventions

If any program produces patentable items, patent rights, processes, or inventions, in the course of work sponsored by the Federal award or subaward funds, such facts must be promptly and fully reported to the awarding agency.

  • Unless there is a prior agreement between you as the recipient and the awarding agency on disposition of such items, the awarding agency may determine whether protection on the invention or discovery will be sought.
  • The awarding agency will also determine how rights in the invention or discovery (including rights under any patents issued) will be allocated and administered in order to protect the public interest consistent with “Government Patent Policy” (“President’s Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies,” dated August 23, 1971, and statement of Government patent policy, as printed in 36 Federal Register 16839).
  • Government regulations have been issued in Title 37 CFR Part 401 [PDF - 192 Kb] by the U.S. Department of Commerce.