Data rights

U.S. government
Data rights is

"a shorthand way to refer to the Government's license rights in two major categories of valuable intellectual property:


 * Technical Data includes any recorded information of a scientific or technical nature (e.g., product design or maintenance data, computer databases, and computer software documentation).
 * Computer Software includes executable code, source code, code listings, design details, processes, flow charts, and related material.

Only under very unique circumstances does the Government acquire title to or ownership of technical data or computer software developed under DoD contracts &mdash; even if the Government funded 100% of the development. Instead, the Government acquires a license to use, release, or disclose that technical data or computer software to persons who are not Government employees. Therefore, the DoD negotiates over license rights and not ownership of technical data or computer software to be delivered under a contract."