I can't speak to the issue of whether this particular patent is valid, nor whether UT-Battelle plans to enforce it or how vigorously (some patents invented by D

I can't speak to the issue of whether this particular patent is valid, nor whether UT-Battelle plans to enforce it or how vigorously (some patents invented by DOE contractors are licensed quite reasonably. I know this because I was an inventor on a few of them). If the patent turns out to be invalid one could file a protest with the Department of Energy. Further, it looks like this contract will be re-bid in 2024 [0]. So if one felt strongly that UT-Battelle's behavior here was improper one could protest to DOE any extension of the contract to UT-Battelle. I rather doubt that a single bad patent would make much difference in DOE's decision, but you never know. [0] https://primecontract.ornl.gov/ https://primecontract.ornl.gov/