Software Engineering Institute Carnegie Mellon

Seeking the Balance Between Government and Industry Interests in Software Acquisition. Volume I. A Basis for Reconciling DoD and Industry Needs for Rights in Software

Martin, A.
Deasy, K.

Technical Report
CMU/SEI-87-TR-013

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The policy under which the Department of Defense (DoD) acquires rights in software and technical data has, in the past, been imbalanced in the direction of obtaining more rights than necessary to meet its needs. As noted by the Packard Commission, a more balanced policy is in the interests of both the DoD and industry. The DoD has recently adopted a new policy for acquiring rights in technical data, and is developing a separate policy for acquiring rights in software. This report offers several recommendations for achieving a balanced policy as to government funded software, privately funded software, and mixed funding software that will meet the mission needs of the DoD while enabling contractors to protect their proprietary interests, and commercialize their software products.