NASA's Intellectual Property

NASA is certainly at the top of the list in advanced technology. Of course, this means that they must protect the intellectual property associated with their advancements. You may be surprised at how complex this protection can get.

• Intellectual Property for the International Space Station - Not only do U.S. laws come into the picture. International agreements must also be considered. If you thought IP law was difficult in foreign countries, try leaving the planet!
• Model Exclusive Patent License Agreement - In approximately 21 pages, you can grant NASA an exclusive license to your patented invention.
• Model Nonexclusive Patent License Agreement - It only takes 19 pages to grant a nonexclusive patent license.
• Use of NASA Name and Logo - I consulted this before posting, which is why I didn't include a picture of the logo.
• NASA, Monopolies, and the Cold War: The Origins and Consequences of NASA Patent Policy, 1958-1996 - I never would have guessed that the formation of the patent policy was so political.
• NASA Grants Two New Imaging Software Patents - I didn't know NASA granted patents, but the software is used to detect and clarify debris in launch video. There is little doubt that this software was used earlier this week to see the falling foam that seems to be plaguing the shuttle missions.

For more on NASA's patents, you can view some search results including the word "patent."

Reports are now claiming: Shuttle program halted over debris. So, if you're interested in helping our space program, think of a new way to make foam stick during launch. But, keep NASA's intellectual property policies in mind.