- § 3791. Management of intellectual property matters within the Department of Defense
- § 3793. Copyrights, patents, designs, etc.; acquisition
- § 3794. Release of technical data under Freedom of Information Act: recovery of costs
§ 3791. Management of intellectual property matters within the Department of Defense
(a)Policy Required.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall develop policy on the acquisition or licensing of intellectual property—
(1) to enable coordination and consistency across the military departments and the Department of Defense in strategies for acquiring or licensing intellectual property and communicating with industry;
(2) to ensure that program managers are aware of the rights afforded the Federal Government and contractors in intellectual property and that program managers fully consider and use all available techniques and best practices for acquiring or licensing intellectual property early in the acquisition process; and
(3) to encourage customized intellectual property strategies for each system based on, at a minimum, the unique characteristics of the system and its components, the product support strategy for the system, the organic industrial base strategy of the military department concerned, and the commercial market.
(b)Cadre of Intellectual Property Experts.—For a provision requiring establishment of a cadre of personnel who are experts in intellectual property matters, see section 1707 of this title.
(c)Guidelines and Resources.—
(1)In general.—The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, shall develop guidelines and resources on the acquisition or licensing of intellectual property, including—
(A) intellectual property strategies and other mechanisms supporting the use of modular open system approaches (as defined in section 4401(b) of this title);
(B) evaluation and negotiation of intellectual property licenses in competitive and non-competitive awards;
(C) models and best practices for specially negotiated licenses, including specially negotiated licenses described in section 3774(c) of this title; and
(D) definitions, key terms, examples, and case studies that clarify differences between—
(i) detailed manufacturing and process data;
(ii) form, fit, and function data;
(iii) data required for operations, maintenance, installation, and training;
(iv) modular system interfaces (as defined in section 4401(b) of this title); and
(v) technical data pertaining to an interface between an item or process and other items or processes necessary for the segregation of an item or process from, or the reintegration of that item or process (or a functionally equivalent item or process) with, other items or processes.
(2)Guidelines and resources limit.—The guidelines and resources developed under paragraph (1) may not alter or affect any authority or duty under this section or section 1707 of this title.
(3)Review and consultation.—In developing the guidelines and resources described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) review the applicable statutory and regulatory history, including among the definitions and key terms in section 3771 of this title, to ensure consistency; and
(B) regularly consult with appropriate government and industry persons and organizations.
(4)Training.—The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the acquisition workforce receives training on the guidelines and resources developed under paragraph (1).
(Added and amended Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1833(n), (o)(1), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4234; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(b)(12)(A), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2134; Pub. L. 117–263, div. A, title VIII, § 841, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 2716.)
§ 3793. Copyrights, patents, designs, etc.; acquisition
Funds appropriated for a military department available for making or procuring supplies may be used to acquire any of the following if the acquisition relates to supplies or processes produced or used by or for, or useful to, that department:
(1) Copyrights, patents, and applications for patents.
(2) Licenses under copyrights, patents, and applications for patents.
(3) Design and process data, technical data, and computer software.
(4) Releases for past infringement of patents or copyrights or for unauthorized use of technical data or computer software.
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 137, § 2386; Pub. L. 86–726, § 3, Sept. 8, 1960, 74 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 103–355, title III, § 3063, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3337; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title VIII, § 813, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 395; renumbered § 3793, Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1833(o)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4234; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(b)(12)(B), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2134.)
§ 3794. Release of technical data under Freedom of Information Act: recovery of costs
(a)In General.—
(1) The Secretary of Defense shall, if required to release technical data under section 552 of title 5 (relating to the Freedom of Information Act), release such technical data to the person requesting the release if the person pays all reasonable costs attributable to search, duplication, and review.
(2) The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe regulations, pursuant to notice and receipt of public comment, specifying a uniform schedule of fees under this section.
(b)Crediting of Receipts.—An amount received under this section—
(1) shall be retained by the Department of Defense or the element of the Department of Defense receiving the amount; and
(2) shall be merged with and available for the same purpose and the same time period as the appropriation from which the costs incurred in complying with requests for technical data were paid.
(c)Waiver.—The Secretary of Defense shall waive the payment of costs required by subsection (a) which are in an amount greater than the costs that would be required for such a release of information under section 552 of title 5 if—
(1) the request is made by a citizen of the United States or a United States corporation, and such citizen or corporation certifies that the technical data requested is required to enable such citizen or corporation to submit an offer or determine whether it is capable of submitting an offer to provide the product to which the technical data relates to the United States or a contractor with the United States (except that the Secretary may require the citizen or corporation to pay a deposit in an amount equal to not more than the cost of complying with the request, to be refunded upon submission of an offer by the citizen or corporation);
(2) the release of technical data is requested in order to comply with the terms of an international agreement; or
(3) the Secretary determines, in accordance with section 552(a)(4)(A)(iii) of title 5, that such a waiver is in the interests of the United States.
(Added Pub. L. 99–500, § 101(c) [title X, § 954(a)(1)], Oct. 18, 1986, 100 Stat. 1783–82, 1783–172, and Pub. L. 99–591, § 101(c) [title X, § 954(a)(1)], Oct. 30, 1986, 100 Stat. 3341–82, 3341–172, § 2328; Pub. L. 99–661, div. A, title IX, formerly title IV, § 954(a)(1), Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3952, renumbered title IX, Pub. L. 100–26, § 3(5), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 273; amended Pub. L. 100–26, § 7(a)(7)(A), (B)(i), Apr. 21, 1987, 101 Stat. 278; renumbered § 3794, Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1833(o)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4234; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(b)(12)(B), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2134.)