Overview
This section mandates that federal agencies establish internal policies and procedures for managing intellectual property within foreign technical assistance and license agreements.
Key Rules
- Agency Mandate: Federal agencies are required to develop their own specific guidelines for handling international agreements involving intellectual property.
- Agreement Types: The scope specifically includes foreign technical assistance agreements and license agreements.
- Cost Control: A primary requirement of these procedures is the prevention and avoidance of unnecessary royalty charges to the government.
Practical Implications
- Contractors involved in international technical collaborations should consult agency-specific supplements (such as the DFARS) for detailed implementation rules, as the FAR delegates the specifics to the individual agencies.
- The government will scrutinize international IP licensing terms to ensure it is not paying for rights it already possesses or for royalties that are otherwise unjustified.