When a federal employee licenses an invention to a private company, can they continue to work on that invention while on government duty?

When a federal employee licenses an invention to a private company, the standard practice is that they cannot continue to work on that invention while on government duty due to potential conflicts of interest and disqualifying interests. This restriction is in place to ensure that government employees do not utilize their official positions or government resources to benefit a private entity, which could undermine public trust and the integrity of the governmental process.

In these cases, the employee might face ethical concerns and legal implications related to their dual role. The licensing of the invention creates a financial interest in the private company, which can lead to partiality and bias in decision-making related to government work. Therefore, maintaining a clear separation between personal business interests and government responsibilities is critical.

The other options imply various allowances or conditions that could permit continued work, but the overarching principle of avoiding conflicts of interest renders them less viable. If approval were to be required or if it depended on the type of invention licensed, the core issue of disqualifying interests would still apply and would typically limit their ability to engage with the invention while fulfilling government duties.