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of XX Data Rights, Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Export Controls in Government Contracting W. Jay DeVecchio, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP ©2015 PubKLearning. All rights reserved.1 Since 1994, a statutory and regulatory preference for commercial items –FASA, 41 U.S.C. § 3307; 10 USC §2377; FAR Part 12 Particularly significant for commercial computer software –For example, GSA IT Schedule 70 = $14 Billion or 42% of all GSA buys Also, a regulatory preference for contractors’ standard commercial licenses – e.g., EULAs, TOS But a caveat for terms inconsistent with federal law. FAR 27.405-3(b); 12.212(a); DFARS 227.7202-1(a) –What clauses and what laws? –Some obvious ones: disputes, indemnity, automatic renewal, penalties. –Why care? Unenforceable against USG anyway. Agencies more recently have been wrestling with this –2013: FAR 52.232-39 “Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations” and FAR 52.212-4(u). –2012: GSA required submission of EULAs for review in editable Word format.
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of XX Data Rights, Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Export Controls in Government Contracting W. Jay DeVecchio, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP As a result, GSA identified 15 principal unacceptable commercial terms, creating an internal “fail chart.” 1.Definition of contracting parties (USG & K’er); 2.Contract formation; 3.Vendor indemnity (vendor assumes control of proceedings); 4.Automatic renewals of term-limited agreements; 5.Future fees or penalties; 6.Taxes; 7.Payment terms or invoicing (late payment) 8.Automatic incorporation/deemed acceptance of third party terms; 9.State/foreign law governed contracts; 10.Equitable remedies, injunctions, binding arbitration; 11.Unilateral termination of supplier agreement by supplier; 12.Unilateral modification of supplier agreement by supplier; 13.Assignment of supplier agreement on Government contract by supplier; 14.Confidentiality of supplier agreement terms and conditions; and 15.Audits (automatic liability for payment). ©2015 PubKLearning. All rights reserved.2
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of XX Data Rights, Intellectual Property, Information Technology and Export Controls in Government Contracting W. Jay DeVecchio, Partner, Jenner & Block LLP ©2015 PubKLearning. All rights reserved.3 On July 31, 2015, GSA issued a “Class Deviation” creating a new clause to address these – GSAR 552.232-78 “Commercial Supplier Agreements – Unenforceable Clauses.” –Also created new commercial item clause 552.212-4 by adding three new sections – (g)(2), (u) and (w) to FAR 52.212-4. Subsection “w” has 12 provisions covering the 15 areas. What’s the problem? 1.Order of precedence changed. License agreements now are subordinate to solicitation provisions and to 552.212-4. 2.552.212-4 has a number of categories that could override the license, although this is plainly contrary to the principle of using commercial terms and is contrary to FAR 52.212-4. E.g.: Warranty ● Title● Patent Indemnity ● Definitions ● System for Award Management Contractors now may have to negotiate terms never previously applicable Complicating, not streamlining. Precedential for other agencies?
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