NASA Launches Searchable Database Of Public Domain Patents (slashgear.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from SlashGear: NASA has released a bunch of patents for its technologies so that anyone can use them. A total of 56 'formerly-patented' technologies developed by the government are now available in the public domain, meaning they can be used for commercial purposes in an unrestricted manner. To make it easier to find these technologies and others like them, NASA has also created a new searchable database that links the public to thousands of the agency's now-expired patents. According to NASA, the patents it has released may have non-aerospace applications that could help companies with commercial projects underway. Of the 56 formerly-patented technologies, users will find things like methods of propulsion, thrusters, rocket nozzles, advanced manufacturing processes, and more. NASA is "encouraging entrepreneurs to explore new ways to commercial NASA technologies," says NASA executive Daniel Lockney. Here's a direct link to search the database to your heart's content.

Comments

Simple question

[Anonymous Coward]

Why aren't patents owned or funded by the federal government in the public domain? Can anyone justify why the Bayh-Dole Act gives universities control of patents generated by federally funded research? If NASA, NSF, or some other government agency gives a grant to a university to do research, the university owns the patents and they must be licensed by the public. Can anyone justify this? I'm glad to see patents in the public domain, but it's not nearly enough.

The times they are 'a changin'

[rmdingler]

We've reached a disappointing time in history when NASA's new launch is a "Searchable Database".