FAR and DFARS › DFARS Part 227: Patents, Data, and Copyrights › Subpart 227.70

DFARS 227.7009-4 Additional clauses—contracts providing for payment of a running royalty.

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

In plain English

This section describes sample clauses for patent release, settlement, and license agreements when a contract provides for payment of a running royalty. It explains that the license grant should be limited to the signatory Department, and that the contract should address the license term, royalty computation, and reporting and payment of royalties. It also addresses coordinating pro rata royalty shares when multiple Departments or Agencies are licensed and a ceiling applies.

Applies to: Patent release, settlement, and license agreements that provide for payment of a running royalty

What it requires

  • Limit the License Grant clause to the practice of the invention by or for the signatory Department or Departments
  • Include a provision specifying the office within the specific Department responsible for reporting use of the licensed subject matter and for obtaining information and vouchers for payments
  • When more than one Department or Agency is licensed and there is a ceiling on royalties payable in any reporting period, coordinate the pro rata share of royalties to be paid by each

Key terms: running royalty · License Grant clause · license term · computation of royalties · reporting and payment of royalties

Written by AI from this section's text. A guide, not legal advice: the text below rules.

The text

The clauses set forth below are examples which may be used in patent release and settlement agreements, and license agreements, when it is desired to cover the subject matter thereof and the contract provides for payment of a running royalty.

(a) License grant—running royalty. No Department shall be obligated to pay royalties unless the contract is signed on behalf of such Department. Accordingly, the License Grant clause at 252.227-7006 should be limited to the practice of the invention by or for the signatory Department or Departments.

(b) License term—running royalty. The clause at 252.227-7007 is a sample form for expressing the license term.

(c) Computation of royalties. The clause at 252.227-7008 providing for the computation of royalties, may be of varying scope depending upon the nature of the royalty bearing article, the volume of procurement, and the type of contract pursuant to which the procurement is to be accomplished.

(d) Reporting and payment of royalties. (1) The contract should contain a provision specifying the office designated within the specific Department involved to make any necessary reports to the contractor of the extent of use of the licensed subject matter by the entire Department, and such office shall be charged with the responsibility of obtaining from all procuring offices of that Department the information necessary to make the required reports and corresponding vouchers necessary to make the required payments. The clause at 252.227-7009 is a sample for expressing reporting and payment of royalties requirements.

(2) Where more than one Department or Government Agency is licensed and there is a ceiling on the royalties payable in any reporting period, the licensing Departments or Agencies shall coordinate with respect to the pro rata share of royalties to be paid by each.

(e) License to other government agencies. When it is intended that a license on the same terms and conditions be available to other departments and agencies of the Government, the clause at 252.227-7010 is an example which may be used.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 227.7009-3 Additional clauses—contracts except running royalty contracts. · 227.7010 Assignments. →

Rule changes for DFARS Part 227

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.

DFARS 227.7009-4 Additional clauses—contracts providing for payment of a running royalty · SpendQuery