---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 7261"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "7261"
heading: "Acquisition of copyrights, patents, etc."
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/7261"
units:
  - "Chapter 84 — Department of Energy"
  - "Subchapter VI — Administrative Provisions"
  - "Part C — General Administrative Provisions"
---

# §7261. Acquisition of copyrights, patents, etc.


The [Secretary](/usc/42/7385s.md?p=3) is authorized to acquire any of the following described rights if the property acquired thereby is for use by or for, or useful to, the Department:

- (1) copyrights, patents, and applications for patents, designs, processes, and manufacturing data;
- (2) licenses under copyrights, patents, and applications for patents; and
- (3) releases, before suit is brought, for past infringement of patents or copyrights.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 95–91, title VI, § 651, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 601.)