Overview
Title
Notice of Intent To Grant Exclusive Patent License to Dayton Photonics Systems, LLC; Dayton, OH
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The Army wants to give a special permission to a company named Dayton Photonics Systems to use a new way of sending light signals, and if anyone disagrees, they have only 15 days to say so.
Summary AI
The Department of the Army has announced its intention to grant an exclusive patent license to Dayton Photonics Systems LLC, a business located in Dayton, Ohio. This license covers technologies for free-space optical and laser communications and is related to a specific patent on an optical fiber positioner. Individuals or companies have 15 days from the notice's publication to submit objections or competing applications. Objections must demonstrate that the license grant doesn't meet specific legal requirements.
Abstract
The Department of the Army hereby gives notice of its intent to grant to Dayton Photonics Systems LLC, a company having its principal place of business at 1800 E Whipp Road, Dayton, Ohio 45440, an exclusive license.
Keywords AI
Sources
AnalysisAI
The document in question, a notice from the Department of the Army published in the Federal Register, outlines the Army's intention to grant an exclusive patent license to Dayton Photonics Systems LLC. This license pertains to technologies involving free-space optical and laser communications, specifically focusing on a patented optical fiber positioner. This development is crucial as it concerns the transfer of significant technological rights from a federal entity to a private business.
General Summary
The Department of the Army plans to grant a unique license to Dayton Photonics Systems LLC, allowing the company to use specific patented technologies related to free-space optical communications. This notice was published to invite objections or competing applications within 15 days—a remarkably tight timeframe—from interested parties. The document establishes the framework under which such objections can be lodged, citing the pertinent U.S. patent laws and federal regulations.
Significant Issues and Concerns
There are notable issues and concerns surrounding this notice:
Short Objection Period: The 15-day window for filing objections or competing applications is particularly short. This truncated timeline may disadvantage competitors or interested parties who may need more time to prepare their responses thoroughly.
Favoritism Concerns: The decision to grant an exclusive license to a specific company—Dayton Photonics Systems LLC—might raise eyebrows regarding potential favoritism or insufficient competition. This could lead to perceptions of bias in selecting a partner for military technology commercialization.
Legal and Technical Complexity: The notice references specific U.S. patent law sections which may not be readily comprehensible to those unfamiliar with legal jargon. Additionally, the technical language used, especially regarding the described patent, might be challenging for individuals without a relevant technical background to grasp fully.
Broad Public Impact
From a broader public perspective, the transfer of such technological capabilities to a private entity can lead to advancements in optical communication technologies that may eventually benefit consumers in various sectors. However, public concerns may arise about transparency and fairness in how such government-private partnerships are established and managed, especially when the technology has military applications.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
For Dayton Photonics Systems LLC, this notice is a positive development, opening up new opportunities for innovation and commercialization of advanced communications technology. For other businesses in the field, the short objection period and perceived exclusivity may negatively impact their competitive stance, as they have limited time to submit alternate proposals or express concern.
In summary, while the notice paves the way for potential technological advancement through corporate collaboration, it raises questions about competition fairness and accessibility due to its technical language and narrow response window. Stakeholders should carefully consider these implications as they navigate these public-private agreements.
Issues
• The notice provides an exclusive license to a specific company, Dayton Photonics Systems LLC, which might raise concerns about favoritism or lack of competition if not properly justified.
• The notice allows only 15 days for objections to be filed following its publication. This period might be considered too short for competitors to prepare comprehensive objections or applications.
• The document references U.S. patent law (35 U.S.C. 209(e) and 37 CFR 404.7(a)(1)(i)) but does not elaborate on how these laws apply to the decision, which might confuse those not familiar with legal specifics.
• The language used in specifying the patent details ('Optical fiber positioner and method for manufacturing same', etc.) might not be immediately clear to individuals without technical background in the subject.