NASA Considers Licensing Patents for Underwater Imaging Technology
Published Date: 6/17/2025
Notice
Summary
NASA plans to give VedPhoto LLC a special license to use two cool underwater and imaging patents. If anyone thinks this isn’t fair or wants to compete, they have until July 2, 2025, to speak up. This move could boost tech innovation while protecting NASA’s inventions and might involve some money for licensing fees.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
VedPhoto May Receive Exclusive Patent License
NASA intends to grant an exclusive, co-exclusive, or partially exclusive United States patent license to VedPhoto LLC (Miami, Florida) to practice U.S. Patent 10,929,966 and U.S. Patent 10,041,833. NASA may still deny the license, and objections or competing applications must be submitted by July 2, 2025.
Exclusivity Could Limit Others’ Use
If NASA grants an exclusive, co-exclusive, or partially exclusive license to VedPhoto LLC, that exclusivity could limit other U.S. parties from practicing the inventions claimed in U.S. Patent 10,929,966 and U.S. Patent 10,041,833 in the licensed fields of use. The notice states that the fields of use may be limited and that objections or competing applications are due by July 2, 2025.
Stakeholders Can Object or Compete By July 2, 2025
Third parties may submit written objections (including evidence and argument) or competing license applications to NASA by July 2, 2025. Objections and competing applications received by that date will be treated as challenges to the contemplated exclusive, co-exclusive, or partially exclusive license.
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