§2181 Inventions relating to atomic weapons, and filing of reports

Summary

Patents are not allowed for inventions that are useful only for using special nuclear material or atomic energy in weapons. Any such patent is canceled and the owner must be paid. Patents also cannot give rights when an invention is used in making atomic weapons; existing patents lose those rights and owners must be paid for that loss. If someone invents something useful for producing or using special nuclear material or atomic energy, they must report it to the Commission within 180 days after they first realize it is useful, unless they file a patent application with the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office within that same time. The Patent Office must tell the Commission about applications it thinks fit and let the Commission see them. The Commission must keep those reports and applications secret unless the inventor agrees or the law or special circumstances require sharing.