Don't forget there is also a process for secretly declaring any patent that is too novel or related to anything the government doesn't want out as "Top Secret"

Don't forget there is also a process for secretly declaring any patent that is too novel or related to anything the government doesn't want out as "Top Secret" and frozen forever. At least with the process being described here, the patent still has a chance of approval. The ones declared off-limits get no compensation and are barred from speaking about their inventions, though I have heard of rare instances where they have sued, but they usually lose.