STEPHANI L. ABRAMSON COUNSEL FOR PROCUREMENT AND EMPLOYMENT LAW NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION (301) Patent Issues and ERA
ERA Contract Terms Contract includes data rights clause (FAR , Alternate IV) Provides Government with paid-up, nonexclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license for computer software Contract does not include any clauses relating to patent rights, but patent rights clause is read into contract under Christian doctrine Standard patent rights clause (FAR ) provides Government with a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable, paid up license to practice subject inventions developed with Government funds in course of contract, provided…
ERA Contract Terms Con’t Contractor must notify Government of subject invention within 2 months of being notified of invention by inventor If no notice (or no timely notice), Government can assert ownership of subject invention
LMC Patents LMC applied for 8 patents related to ERA contract 3 patents have been issued LMC did not notify NARA of subject inventions until January 2011 NARA notified LMC of its intent to assert ownership of patents as permitted by FAR Awaiting response from LMC Patents are for design and implementation related to ERA