unpatent

English

Etymology

From un- +‎ patent.

Verb

unpatent (third-person singular simple present unpatents, present participle unpatenting, simple past and past participle unpatented)

1. (transitive, rare) To release from a legal patent.
   • 1962, American Bar Association. Section of Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law, Summary of Proceedings (page 68)

     […] unpatenting inventions. But he saw some decided advantages in publication patents if limited to agencies of the government. He, therefore, moved to amend by deleting "by an applicant" and inserting […]

   • 1990, Techniques & culture (issues 15-16, page 34)

     […] unpatenting of a guild secret, and its concomitant professional recording for mass consumption.