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DFARS Clause ACTIVE

252.227-7012

Patent License and Release Contract.
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Effective Date
DEC 2022
Active Deviations
1
Versions
3 (since 2016-12-22)
RFO
Removed Under RFO

This clause is marked [Reserved] under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul (Deviation 2026-O0036). It no longer applies to contracts using the RFO model.

View deviation details
252.227-7012 Patent License and Release Contract.

As prescribed at 227.7012, insert the following clause in patent releases, license agreements, and assignments:

(Contract No.)

Patent License and Release Contract (DEC 2022)

This CONTRACT is effective as of the ____ day of [month, year], between the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (hereinafter called the Government), and __________ (hereinafter called the Contractor), (a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of __________), (a partnership consisting of __________), (an individual trading as __________), of the City of __________, in the State of __________.

Whereas, the Contractor warrants that it has the right to grant the within license and release, and the Government desires to procure the same, and

Whereas, this contract is authorized by law, including 10 U.S.C. 3793.

Now Therefore, in consideration of the grant, release and agreements hereinafter recited, the parties have agreed as follows:

Article 1. License Grant.*

(Insert the clause at 252.227-7004 for a paid up license, or the clause at 252.227-7006 for a license on a running royalty basis.)

Article 2. License Term.*

(Insert the appropriate alternative clause at 252.227-7005 for a paid up license, or the clause at 252.227-7007 for a license on a running royalty basis.)

Article 3. Release of Past Infringement.

(Insert the clause at 252.227-7001.)

Article 4. Non-Estoppel.

(Insert the clause at 252.227-7000.)

Article 5. Payment.

The Contractor shall be paid the sum of ______ Dollars ($______) in full compensation for the rights herein granted and agreed to be granted. (For a license on a running royalty basis, insert the clause at 252.227-7006 in accordance with the instructions therein, and also the clause as specified at 252.227-7002 and 252.227-7009 and 252.227-7010.)

Article 6. Covenant Against Contingent Fees.

(Insert the clause at FAR 52.203-5.)

Article 7. Assignment of Claims.

(Insert the clause at FAR 52.232-23.)

Article 8. Gratuities.

(Insert the clause at FAR 52.203-3.)

Article 9. Disputes.

(Insert the clause at FAR 52.233-1.)

Article 10. Successors and Assignees.

This Agreement shall be binding upon the Contractor, its successors** and assignees, but nothing contained in this Article shall authorize an assignment of any claim against the Government otherwise than as permitted by law.

In Witness Whereof, the parties hereto have executed this contract.

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

By

Date

(Signature and Title of

Contractor Representative)

By

Date

*If only a release is procured, delete this article; if an assignment is procured, use the clause at 252.227-7011.

**When the Contractor is an individual, change "successors" to "heirs"; if a partnership, modify appropriately.

(End of clause)

[64 FR 49685, Sept. 14, 1999, as amended at 87 FR 76997, Dec. 16, 2022]
RFO
Prescription superseded under the RFO

The prescription shown below is from the codified eCFR. Under the RFO, the prescribing section may have been revised, relocated or reserved. See the deviation memorandum for the current prescription authority.

View deviation: 2026-O0036 →

R-DFARS Prescription Source

This clause is prescribed in the R-DFARS by the following deviation:

  • 2026-O0036 — DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 27) (DFARS Part 227)
    Add clause 252.227-7012
227.7012
The format at 252.227-7012 appropriately modified where necessary, may be used for contracts of release, license, or assignment.
Prescription data sourced from eCFR as of 2026-06-10 03:16 UTC. Cross-references within the prescription are not resolved automatically.

Regulatory Stack

The layers of regulation that govern this clause, from the FAR prescription through agency-specific supplements and any active deviations.

R-DFARS R-DFARS Prescription Per Deviation 2026-O0036 (DFARS Part 227)
2026-O0036: DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 27) — DFARS Part 227

View Deviation 2026-O0036 →

DFARS DFARS Supplement (eCFR) ⚠ May be superseded by RFO 227.7012
The format at 252.227-7012 appropriately modified where necessary, may be used for contracts of release, license, or assignment.

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Version History

Version history is sourced from the codified eCFR. Changes published only as class deviations or by the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul do not appear here until they are incorporated into the eCFR. For RFO-driven changes see the RFO Version tab and any active deviations cited above.

No version history available from eCFR.

Active Class Deviations

DFARS RFO Implementation (Part 27) Add clause 252.227-7012
MODIFIED

Related Clauses

References

252.227-7004 252.227-7006 252.227-7005 252.227-7007 252.227-7001 252.227-7000 252.227-7002 252.227-7009 252.227-7010 252.227-7011
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