Right of United States to design; right of designer to patent; right to sue United States

§ 2273. Right of United States to design; right of designer to patent; right to sue United States (a) Any executive or military department of the United States may construct or have constructed according to the winning design, and may use, any aircraft, aircraft part, or aeronautical accessory, after payment is completed under a contract made under section 2272 of this title, or after payment for or purchase of the winning design, or a separable part thereof, for that item under that section. An item so constructed may be sold according to law as condemned material. In neither case may any further compensation be paid to the winner of the competition. However, the winner may apply for a patent on any feature of the designed item that was originated by him, and, if the patent is granted, he has exclusive rights under it against all persons except the United States or its vendee under this subsection. 126 (b) Any person who believes that— (1) a design developed by him after July 2, 1926, relating to aircraft or an aircraft component, is being used; or (2) an article embodying a design developed by him after July 2, 1926, relating to aircraft or an aircraft component, is being used or manufactured; by or for the United States without just compensation to him from the United States or any other source may, within four years from the date of that use or manufacture, sue in the Court of Claims to recover reasonable and entire compensation.