"Defense Acquisitions: DoD Should Take Additional Actions to Improve How it Approaches Intellectual Property,".

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: FURTHER READING

* GAO has been producing reports about the intellectual property conundrum for some 30 years.

The problem: companies want to keep their IP rights because it may result in profits long after a weapon system is fully fielded, particularly in maintenance and sustainment costs. The government wants to obtain them so they can compete those contracts, drive costs down and save money for the taxpayers.

"When IP rights are not acquired--because, for example, needs were not assessed--consequences may include sustainment cost growth, maintenance challenges, and the inability to competitively purchase follow-on systems and spare parts," the report noted.

There have been several changes to the Defense Department's IP acquisition regime over the past five years because of about a dozen mandates passed in legislation. This new report looks at how the department is doing implementing the changes.

Not so good, it turns...