Intellectual Property and Technical Data in DOD Acquisitions
Abstract
The Department of Defense (DOD) relies extensively on the organizations that comprise the defense industrial base (DIB). These entities provide the products and services that enable DODs business operations and warfighting capabilities. In some situations, DOD must also consider the need to obtain intellectual property (IP) and technical data rights in order to operate and maintain the capabilities it acquires. IP rights have grown in importance to DOD as U.S. defense research and development (R and D) spending as a share of global R and D spending has declinedand IP rights are also increasingly important to DIB entities who rely on their portfolios of developed IP to generate profits from their R and D investments. Observers such as the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have said that DOD has not always been consistent in its acquisition and licensing of IP developed at private expense in the past, resulting in reduced mission readiness and surging sustainment costs in some instances. In recognition of these trends, Congress has directed DOD to take a number of actions to improve policies and processes for how DOD acquires IP.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 22, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1168724
Entities
People
- Heidi M. Peters
Organizations
- Library of Congress