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ARTICLE · 31 JANUARY 2018

Contractors Beware: The 2018 NDAA Ushers In New Changes Affecting IP Rights

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The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA" or "Act") includes changes that could make the Department of Defense ("DoD") a more effective and knowledgeable purchaser of Intellectual Property...

United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Adam Bartolanzo
Adam Bartolanzo
Keith Szeliga
Keith Szeliga
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The 2018 National Defense Authorization Act ("NDAA" or "Act") includes changes that could make the Department of Defense ("DoD") a more effective and knowledgeable purchaser of Intellectual Property ("IP") and promote more flexible IP acquisition strategies. These same changes also could encourage Contracting Officers to insist on broader IP rights and delivery requirements. While it has always been important for contractors to protect their IP (click here for our list of "Top 10 Ways to Lose Rights in Your IP"), with the passage of the 2018 NDAA, avoiding the loss of valuable IP rights could require even more sophistication and vigilance.

Below is a summary of the 2018 NDAA provisions affecting IP rights and the potential impact of those provisions on defense contractors.

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