USPTO has the answer: http://www.uspto.gov/terms-use-uspto-websites.html http://www.uspto.gov/terms-use-uspto-websites.html Patents are published as part of th

USPTO has the answer: http://www.uspto.gov/terms-use-uspto-websites.html http://www.uspto.gov/terms-use-uspto-websites.html Patents are published as part of the terms of granting the patent to the inventor. Subject to limited exceptions reflected in 37 CFR 1.71(d) & (e) and 1.84(s), the text and drawings of a patent are typically not subject to copyright restrictions. And if you follow the links to those laws, you'll see this: (d) A copyright or mask work notice may be placed in a design or utility patent application adjacent to copyright and mask work material contained therein. ... Inclusion of a copyright or mask work notice will be permitted only if the authorization language set forth in paragraph (e) of this section is included at the beginning (preferably as the first paragraph) of the specification. (e) The authorization shall read as follows: A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to (copyright or mask work) protection. The (copyright or mask work) owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all (copyright or mask work) rights whatsoever.