§ 8.1 Interpretation of section 152 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954; opinion of the General Counsel.

(a) Inquiries have been received as to the applicability of the provisions of section 152 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (68 Stat. 944) to inventions or discoveries made or conceived in the course of activities under licenses issued by the Atomic Energy Commission.

(b) In my [General Counsel, U.S. Atomic Energy Commission] opinion a license issued by the Atomic Energy Commission is not a "contract, subcontract, arrangement or other relationship with the Commission" as those terms are used in section 152 of the act. Hence, the mere fact that an invention or discovery is made by a licensee in the course of activities authorized by a license would not give the Commission rights under section 152 with respect to such invention or discovery. On the other hand, if a licensee has entered into a "contract, subcontract, arrangement or other relationship with the Commission," inventions or discoveries made or conceived by the licensee under the contract or other relationship would come within the purview of section 152.

(c) As used in this section, "license" means a license issued pursuant to Chapter 6 (Special Nuclear Material), 7 (Source Material), 8 (Byproduct Material) or 10 (Atomic Energy Licenses) of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, or a construction permit issued pursuant to section 185 of the act.

[21 FR 1414, Mar. 3, 1956]