Who can sign the statement required by the Atomic Energy Act or NASA Act regarding the conception and making of an invention?

The word “applicant” in the Atomic Energy Act and NASA Act is construed by the USPTO to mean the inventor(s), an assignee, obligated assignee, or a person who otherwise shows sufficient proprietary interest in the matter. In the ordinary situation, the statements must be signed by: The inventor or joint inventors An assignee An obligated…

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What is the time period for an applicant to respond to a formal request for a property rights statement made under the Atomic Energy Act or National Aeronautics and Space Act?

When the USPTO makes a formal request for a property rights statement in accordance with 42 U.S.C. 2182 (DOE) or 51 U.S.C. 20135 (NASA), the applicant has a 30-day statutory period to respond. There is no provision for an extension of this 30-day time period. As stated in MPEP 150, “If no proper and timely…

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