Pub. L. 89-563, tit. I, sec. 106

Sec. 106. (a) The Secretary shall conduct research, testing, development, and training necessary to carry out the purposes of this title, including, but not limited to— (1) collecting data from any source for the purpose of determining the relationship between motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment performance characteristics and (A) accidents involving motor vehicles, and (B) the occurrence of death, or personal injury resulting from such accidents; (2) procuring (by negotiation or otherwise) experimental and other motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for research and testing purposes; (3) selling or otherwise disposing of test motor vehicles and motor vehicle equipment and reimbursing the proceeds of such sale or disposal into the current appropriation available for the purpose of carrying out this title. (b) The Secretary is authorized to conduct research, testing, development, and training as authorized to be carried out by subsection (a) of this section by making grants for the conduct of such research, testing, development, and training to States, interstate agencies, and nonprofit institutions. (c) Whenever the Federal contribution for any research or development activity authorized by this Act encouraging motor vehicle safety is more than minimal, the Secretary shall include in any contract, grant, or other arrangement for such research or development activity, provisions effective to insure that all information, uses, processes, patents, and other developments resulting from that activity will be made freely and fully available to the general public. Nothing herein shall be construed to deprive the owner of any background patent of any right which he. may have thereunder.