Code of Federal Regulations Title 34. Education § 34.6.0 General policy

(a) To safeguard the public interest in inventions developed by Department employees, contractors and grantees with the aid of public funds and facilities;

(b) To encourage and recognize individual and cooperative achievement in research and investigations;  and

(c) To establish a procedure, consistent with pertinent statutes, Executive orders and general Government regulations, for the determination of rights and obligations relating to the patenting of inventions.