FAR 27—Patents, Data, and Copyrights

Scope of part.

FAR 27.000 is the scope statement for FAR Part 27, and it tells readers what this part is about: the policies, procedures, solicitation provisions, and contract clauses that govern patents, data, and copyrights in federal contracting. In practice, this means Part 27 is the place to look when a contract involves intellectual property rights, ownership, use restrictions, licensing, or the government’s rights in technical data and copyrighted material. The section does not itself create detailed substantive rights; instead, it signals that the rules in the rest of Part 27 control how agencies should address these issues in solicitations and contracts. For contracting officers, it is a reminder to include the correct provisions and clauses when intellectual property issues are present. For contractors, it identifies the part of the FAR that may affect how they protect proprietary information, assert patent rights, and manage data and copyright obligations on federal work.

Subpart 27.1

Definition.

FAR 27.001 provides a single, scope-setting definition for the term “United States” as used in FAR Part 27. It specifies that, for this part, the term includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and possessions, Puerto Rico, and the Northern Mariana Islands. This definition matters because Part 27 addresses patents, data rights, copyrights, and other intellectual property-related issues in federal contracting, and the geographic meaning of “United States” can affect where rights, protections, obligations, and compliance requirements apply. In practice, this definition prevents confusion about whether Part 27 rules extend beyond the continental states and ensures contractors and contracting officers apply the part consistently across all covered U.S. jurisdictions. It is a definitional provision only, but it is important because it controls interpretation of the rest of Part 27 whenever the term is used.

Subpart 27.2

Subpart 27.3

Subpart 27.4

Subpart 27.5