Inventions made in military service or under government contracts come with their own rules on ownership, secrecy and licensing. We help service members, veterans and defense contractors understand those rules and protect what they can.
Military and defense inventions raise questions most inventors never face. We help with:
Who owns an invention made during military service depends on facts such as whether it relates to your official duties and whether government time, facilities or funding were used. Getting that analysis right early avoids disputes later.
Most military inventions draw on one or more of the patent types we prepare:
Craige Thompson is a licensed electrical engineer (PE) and USPTO-registered patent attorney who understands complex hardware and systems. We explain the ownership and secrecy rules in plain terms and draft patents on defense and dual-use technology that capture the full technical contribution.
Tell us about your invention in a Complimentary Patent Needs Assessment. We’ll tell you honestly whether it’s patentable, what it would take to protect it, and what it would cost.
Get a Complimentary Patent Needs AssessmentIt depends on the facts. Under Executive Order 10096 and the related federal regulations, the government may take ownership of inventions made by federal employees, including service members, that relate to their official duties or use government resources. Inventions unrelated to your duties and made on your own time may belong to you.
Yes, in some cases. Under 35 U.S.C. 181, the USPTO can issue a secrecy order if publishing an application could harm national security. The application is not published or issued while the order is in place, and foreign filing is restricted.
For inventions made under federal funding agreements, the contractor can often keep title, but the government usually receives a license to use the invention and there are reporting obligations. The specific contract terms matter.
Yes. Inventions you develop as a civilian are generally yours, even if they are informed by your military experience, as long as they do not use classified information or government-owned inventions.
Technology with both military and civilian applications, such as sensors, communications equipment or drones. Dual-use inventions can be patented and licensed commercially, subject to any export-control rules.
