FREDERICK, Md. (AP) — A Frederick scientist says the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stole his trade secrets for software to help detect threats to the food supply.
The Frederick News-Post reported Tuesday that John Hnatio (NAY'-sho) says he learned of the alleged copyright infringement when he saw a similar tool offered for free on the FDA website last year. The agency's intellectual property lawyer has said he could not substantiate the allegation.
Hnatio says he has filed a complaint with the Small Business Administration. The SBA says it referred the matter to the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Hnatio runs a small company called FoodQuestTQ. He claims the release of the FDA tool has cost him business opportunities and forced him to lay off workers.