Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§5308 Protection of Proprietary Rights

Title 15 › CHAPTER 79 — METAL CASTING COMPETITIVENESS RESEARCH PROGRAM › § 5308

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Do not share a company’s trade secrets or any commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential when you get it because of work under this chapter. The Secretary may protect research and development information made under this chapter for up to 5 years after it is created if it would be a trade secret or confidential, including exempting it from the disclosure rules in subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5. For patent matters, the Institutes get the same treatment as nonprofit organizations and small businesses under chapter 18 of title 35.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §5308

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Proprietary rights

No trade secrets or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential, under the meaning of section 552(b)(4) of title 5, which is obtained from a company as a result of activities under this chapter shall be disclosed.

(b)Commercial information

The Secretary, for a period of up to 5 years after the development of information that—

(1)results from research and development activities conducted under this chapter; and

(2)would be a trade secret or commercial or financial information that is privileged or confidential, under the meaning of section 552(b)(4) of title 5, if the information had been obtained from a company,

may provide appropriate protection against the dissemination of such information, including exemption from subchapter II of chapter 5 of title 5.

(c)Patent rights

With respect to patent rights, the Institutes shall be treated in the same manner as are nonprofit organizations and small business firms under chapter 18 of title 35, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in that chapter.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 5308

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110