What is the purpose of reporting patent applications to the Department of Energy (DOE)?

Patent applications that appear to disclose, purport to disclose, or do disclose inventions or discoveries relating to atomic energy are reported to the Department of Energy. The purpose is to allow the DOE access to these applications for review.

As stated in MPEP 150: Applications for patents which appear to disclose, purport to disclose or do disclose inventions or discoveries relating to atomic energy are reported to the Department of Energy, which Department will be given access to the applications. However, it’s important to note that Such reporting does not constitute a determination that the subject matter of each application so reported is in fact useful or is an invention or discovery, or that such application in fact discloses subject matter in categories specified by 42 U.S.C. 2181(c) and (d).

For more information on invention disclosure, visit: invention disclosure.

For more information on patent applications, visit: patent applications.