Einstein actually came up with the idea of a laser in 1917.

It wasn't until the 50's the Bell Labs tried to develop it. The laser itself belongs to no one.

Militarily, yes, the US and western allies will want it.

Patent protection, I doubt, extends to military concerns (who do you sue, and what do you do if they tell you to pound sand?).

So in some ways we have to hope that what Dr.T has developed will be very difficult to reproduce even through reverse engineering.

Nevertheless, the western powers will want POET asap for whatever nefarious, defence-stated goals they choose.