Invention Secrecy Act The Invention Secrecy Act of 1951 is a body of United States federal law designed to prevent disclosure of new inventions and technologies that, in the opinion of selected federal agencies, present a possible threat to the national security of the United States. Government Secrecy Orders on Patents Have Stifled More Than 5,000 Inventions. I don't know for sure, but this is what might have happened to a possible patent. I wish there was someway that we could gain access to all those classified patents. Mr. Robot, are you listening? :)