The Secretary is authorized to acquire any of the following described rights if the property acquired thereby is for use by or for, or useful to, the Department:

1. (1) copyrights, patents, and applications for patents, designs, processes, and manufacturing data;
2. (2) licenses under copyrights, patents, and applications for patents; and
3. (3) releases, before suit is brought, for past infringement of patents or copyrights.

(Pub. L. 95–91, title VI, § 651, Aug. 4, 1977, 91 Stat. 601.)