South Yarmouth, MA asked in Patents (Intellectual Property) for Massachusetts

Q: Who is the best lawyer to use to file a CLASSIFIED patent for the electromagnetic asteroid propulsion system?

1 Lawyer Answer
Peter D. Mlynek
Peter D. Mlynek
Answered
  • Patents Lawyer
  • Moorestown, NJ

A: Well, if you are working on a classified material, such as a mass driver, then you need to talk to your group leader, manager or director. They will be able to provide the proper channels to determine if it is in the best interest of your sponsor to apply for such a patent, and what you need to do next.

You should understand that there are procedures in place how to deal with classified material. See, for example, MPEP 120 and 130, 37 CFR 5.1, and like, so no, questions like yours are fairly common.

There is of course a tension between the idea of keeping your invention a secret (hence the classification), and the theory behind patenting which exists to promote dissemination of information.

Good luck!

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