Defense Trade: The Use of Intellectual Property Generated at Department of Energy's Laboratories to Satisfy Offset Requirements
Abstract
Offsets are benefits that defense contractors provide to foreign governments as inducements or conditions for the countries to purchase military goods and services. Offsets can include a wide range of goods and services, including the transfer of U.S. developed technology or training assistance provided to companies and organizations located in foreign countries. The Department of Commerce reported that for the 5-year period from 1993 to 1997, U.S. defense contractors reported about 230 new offset agreements valued at $19 billion. Because of your interest in identifying emerging trends in the use of offsets, you asked us to make inquiries concerning the use by defense contractors of intellectual property generated at the Department of Energy's laboratories to safisfy their offset requirements. Specifically, you asked us to identify (1) the use of intellectual property and services of laboratory personnel to satisfy defense contractors' offset requirements and (2) the rights that U.S. contractors that manage Department of Energy laboratories have to intellectual property generated at these laboratories. Based on discussions with your staff on November 2, 2000, we are also providing information as to how the laboratories compute charges for their intellectual property and services. This letter summarizes the results of our work.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 08, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA385564
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office