Accession Number:

AD1168724

Title:

Intellectual Property and Technical Data in DOD Acquisitions

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Report]

Corporate Author:

Library of Congress, Congressional Research SVC

Personal Author(s):

• Peters, Heidi M

Report Date:

2022-04-22

Pagination or Media Count:

3

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.

Descriptors:

Subject Categories:

• Logistics, Military Facilities and Supplies
• Information Science
• Administration and Management

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]