What Happened
NDAA Decision Looms Amid Industry Concerns Over Intellectual Property
The US defense industry is pushing back against ‘right to repair’ legislation included in the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, citing concerns over intellectual property protection. The measure, which has bipartisan support, aims to give the Defense Department ‘default government purpose rights’ for technical data and software, allowing it to repair and maintain equipment without relying on original manufacturers. However, industry groups argue that this could compromise their intellectual property and deter innovation. The final decision on the legislation is expected to be made by the chairmen and ranking members of the armed services committees, according to Breaking Defense.