Title 15 — Commerce and TradeRelease 119-73not60

§5308 Protection of Proprietary Rights

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

Last updated Apr 3, 2026|Official source

Summary

Protects trade secrets and private business or financial information the government gets from a company under this law. The Secretary must keep such information secret. The Secretary must also keep secret, for up to 5 years after it is created, research-and-development information under this law that would be a trade secret under the Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4)). Treats the Institutes the same as nonprofit organizations and small businesses for patent rules under chapter 18 of title 35, even if that chapter says something different.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §5308

Commerce and Trade — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)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)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,

(c)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

Apr 3, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60