DFARS 252.227-7020 Rights in Special Works

Clause Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement Jun 1995 version

Facts

Citation
DFARS 252.227-7020
Type
Clause
Current version
June 1995
Prescribed in
DFARS 227.7106(a)
Supplements
FAR Subpart 52.2 Text of Provisions and Clauses
Text as of
DFARS Change May 7, 2026
Official text
acquisition.gov

Text from acquisition.gov. Federal Register history from the Federal Register's records of the rules that amended this clause.

Text

As prescribed in227.7105-3, 227.7106 (a) or 227.7205 (a), use the following clause:

RIGHTS IN SPECIAL WORKS (JUN 1995)

(a) Applicability. This clause applies to works first created, generated, or produced and required to be delivered under this contract.

(b) Definitions. As used in this clause:

(1) “Computer data base” means a collection of data recorded in a form capable of being processed by a computer. The term does not include computer software.

(2) “Computer program” means a set of instructions, rules, or routines recorded in a form that is capable of causing a computer to perform a specific operation or series of operations.

(3) “Computer software” means computer programs, source code, source code listings, object code listings, design details, algorithms, processes, flow charts, formulae and related material that would enable the software to be reproduced, recreated, or recompiled. Computer software does not include computer data bases or computer software documentation.

(4) “Computer software documentation” means owner's manuals, user's manuals, installation instructions, operating instructions, and other similar items, regardless of storage medium, that explain the capabilities of the computer software or provide instructions for using the software.

(5) “Unlimited rights” means the rights to use, modify, reproduce, perform, display, release, or disclose a work in whole or in part, in any manner, and for any purpose whatsoever, and to have or authorize others to do so.

(6) The term “works” includes computer data bases, computer software, or computer software documentation; literary, musical, choreographic, or dramatic compositions; pantomimes; pictorial, graphic, or sculptural compositions; motion pictures and other audiovisual compositions; sound recordings in any medium; or, items of similar nature.

(c) License rights.

(1) The Government shall have unlimited rights in works first produced, created, or generated and required to be delivered under this contract.

(2) When a work is first produced, created, or generated under this contract, and such work is required to be delivered under this contract, the Contractor shall assign copyright in those works to the Government. The Contractor, unless directed to the contrary by the Contracting Officer, shall place the following notice on such works:

(3) The Contractor grants to the Government a royalty-free, world-wide, nonexclusive, irrevocable license to reproduce, prepare derivative works from, distribute, perform, or display, and to have or authorize others to do so, the Contractor's copyrighted works not first produced, created, or generated under this contract that have been incorporated into the works deliverable under this contract.

“© (Year date of delivery) United States Government, as represented by the Secretary of (department). All rights reserved.”

For phonorecords, the “©” marking shall be replaced by a “P”.

(d) Third party copyrighted data. The Contractor shall not incorporate, without the written approval of the Contracting Officer, any copyrighted works in the works to be delivered under this contract unless the Contractor is the copyright owner or has obtained for the Government the license rights necessary to perfect a license of the scope identified in paragraph (c)(3) of this clause and, prior to delivery of such works—

(1) Has affixed to the transmittal document a statement of the license rights obtained; or

(2) For computer software, has provided a statement of the license rights obtained in a form acceptable to the Contracting Officer.

(e) Indemnification. The Contractor shall indemnify and save and hold harmless the Government, and its officers, agents and employees acting for the Government, against any liability, including costs and expenses, (1) for violation of proprietary rights, copyrights, or rights of privacy or publicity, arising out of the creation, delivery, use, modification, reproduction, release, performance, display, or disclosure of any works furnished under this contract, or (2) based upon any libelous or other unlawful matter contained in such works.

(f) Government-furnished information. Paragraphs (d) and (e) of this clause are not applicable to information furnished to the Contractor by the Government and incorporated in the works delivered under this contract.

(End of clause)

Sections cited

Quick answers

What is DFARS 252.227-7020?

DFARS 252.227-7020 is a clause of the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement, titled "Rights in Special Works".

What is the current version of DFARS 252.227-7020?

The current version is dated June 1995.

Where is DFARS 252.227-7020 prescribed?

It is prescribed in DFARS 227.7106(a), Contracts for special works.

Are changes to DFARS 252.227-7020 proposed?

No proposed rule from the last 3 years is waiting on a final rule.

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