Invention Secrecy Orders Reach Twelve Year High Under Bush Administration
According to U.S. Patent & Trademark Office statistics (hat tip to Steven Aftergood for gathering the statistics every year), the number of secrecy orders in effect at the end of Fiscal Year 2007 (ending September 30, 2007) reached a 12-year high, at 5,002. Secrecy orders are issued by the government when inventions submitted to the Patent Office have national security implications. Inventions falling into this category are first spotted by the Patent Office during the initial intake and scanning of patent applications, which involves a keyword search for sensitive words that can lead to a full review by a government agency (the keywords are, I believe, classified, but you can easily guess some of the words that might trigger a full review). A secrecy order means the PTO cannot issue a patent for the invention covered by the order until the order is lifted (inventors are also prohibited from disclosing the invention). Below are some of the statistics for FY '07 (parenthetical values reflect change relative to FY '06):
- Total Secrecy Orders in Effect: 5,002
- New Secrecy Orders Imposed: 128 (+19%)
- ARMY: 22
- NAVY: 28
- AF: 45
- NSA: 21
- Secrecy Orders Rescinded: 68 (-16%)
- "John Doe" Secrecy Orders: 53 (+83%)
These statistics are seen as being relevant to Maryland because the counties surrounding Washington, D.C., are home to many government agencies and government contractors that are likely involved in patent activity that may result in secrecy orders. In fact, if you look at Patent Office statistics, many of the agencies/contractors in this area are high on the list of the number of patents issued each year in Maryland (see Rank Ordered Listing of Organizations Receiving 5 or More Utility Patents During the Period Originating From MARYLAND). Johns Hopkins University, which topped the list in 2006, operates the Applied Physics Laboratory (Howard County), a major government defense contractor. Third on the list is the Navy, which operates the Naval Research Lab (Prince George's County). The Army, which operates the Army Research Lab and biodefense research agencies in Frederick, MD, is sixth on the list. Northrop Grumman and the National Security Agency (NSA) (both Anne Arundel County) are also high on the list. And, of course, there are over 300 biotechnology companies in Maryland (mostly Montgomery County), some of which may be involved in technologies that involve national security issues.
