Intellectual Property in Government Contracts – Landmines Abound
Intellectual property is often a company’s most valuable asset, and for companies with federal government customers, following the government’s rules can mean the difference between maximizing and losing value in newly developed IP, reports McGuireWoods in a legal alert.
Christian B. Nagel, Todd R. Steggerda, Ronald L. Fouse, David G. Dargatis and Lorna J. Tang wrote the article.
Their article addresses rights in technical data and computer software.
Contractors “should place the highest priority on reviewing, understanding and, if possible, negotiating IP terms prior to signing any government contract,” they write. “After the contract has been executed, the contractor should ensure that at least one member of its legal or management team understands the applicable IP rules and ensures strict compliance throughout contract performance.”
