Patent and Trademark Amendments of 1980 Set the Stage for Uniform Patent Practice by Federal Agencies

As required by the Patent and Trademark Amendments of 1980, GAO reviewed the actions taken by Federal agencies to implement the Act's guidelines which establish a uniform policy for assigning titles to inventions by small businesses or nonprofit contractors during Government-sponsored research. Under the provisions of the Act, GAO is responsible for monitoring how well the guidelines are being enacted and for determining whether an agency determination is contrary to the Act's policies and objectives.