Constant v. United States

*151Chapter 17 of the Patent Act of 19521 66 Stat. 805, 35 U.S.C. §§ 181 et seq., authorizes the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, when a patent application has been filed and the publication or disclosure of the invention by the grant of a patent might be detrimental to the national security, to order that the invention be kept secret and to withhold the grant of a patent so long as the national interest requires. 35 U.S.C. § 181.2 It then becomes a criminal offense for private persons, knowing of the order and without authorization, to publish or disclose the invention or material…