U.S. Government contractors continue to face increasing challenges when it comes to protecting their intellectual property rights. While there remains uncertainty about how the Department of Defense will implement Section 815 of the fiscal year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (FY 2012 NDAA), the law itself contains language that could significantly impact contractor rights in, and contractor delivery requirements for, technical data and computer software. Moreover, it appears that the U.S. Government is becoming increasingly assertive in challenging contractors’ claimed intellectual property rights restrictions.

On May 15-16, 2013, Crowell & Moring is hosting its annual Ounce of Prevention Seminar (OOPS), which, for the past 28 years, has provided government contractors with the information they need to stay on top of the latest developments in federal contracting. At this year’s OOPS on May 16, C&M attorneys will describe recent and anticipated changes to the intellectual property landscape in a program called The Pendulum Continues to Swing the Wrong Way for Contractors: The Government’s Continued Assault on Contractor Intellectual Property. John E. McCarthy Jr. will lead a panel featuring Jonathan M. Baker and me. We will discuss updates on the FY 2012 NDAA data rights changes, policy changes impacting contractor intellectual property, and recent case law bearing on intellectual property in the government contracting sphere.

Government contractors can register and find more information on the 29th annual OOPS program, including the complete OOPS agenda, here.