FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2

FAR 52.227-1 Authorization and Consent.

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 clause says the Government authorizes and consents to the use and manufacture of patented inventions in performing the contract or subcontracts, in the situations described in the clause. It also requires the Contractor to include the substance of this clause in larger subcontracts, and it addresses how patent infringement liability is handled.

Applies to: Contractors and subcontractors performing this contract

What it requires

  • Include the substance of this clause, including paragraph (b), in all subcontracts expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold as defined in FAR 2.101 on the date of subcontract award.

Key terms: Authorization and Consent · United States patent · subcontract · simplified acquisition threshold · Contracting Officer

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

The text

As prescribed in 27.201-2(a)(1), insert the following clause:

Authorization and Consent (JUN 2020)

(a) The Government authorizes and consents to all use and manufacture, in performing this contract or any subcontract at any tier, of any invention described in and covered by a United States patent—

(1) Embodied in the structure or composition of any article the delivery of which is accepted by the Government under this contract; or

(2) Used in machinery, tools, or methods whose use necessarily results from compliance by the Contractor or a subcontractor with (i) specifications or written provisions forming a part of this contract or (ii) specific written instructions given by the Contracting Officer directing the manner of performance. The entire liability to the Government for infringement of a United States patent shall be determined solely by the provisions of the indemnity clause, if any, included in this contract or any subcontract hereunder (including any lower-tier subcontract), and the Government assumes liability for all other infringement to the extent of the authorization and consent hereinabove granted.

(b) The Contractor shall include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (b), in all subcontracts that are expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 2.101 on the date of subcontract award. However, omission of this clause from any subcontract, including those at or below the simplified acquisition threshold, as defined in FAR 2.101 on the date of subcontract award, does not affect this authorization and consent.

(End of clause)

Alternate I (APR 1984). As prescribed in 27.201-2(a)(2), substitute the following paragraph (a) for paragraph (a) of the basic clause:

(a) The Government authorizes and consents to all use and manufacture of any invention described in and covered by a United States patent in the performance of this contract or any subcontract at any tier.

Alternate II (APR 1984). As prescribed in 27.201-2(a)(3), substitute the following paragraph (a) for paragraph (a) of the basic clause:

(a) The Government authorizes and consents to all use and manufacture in the performance of any order at any tier or subcontract at any tier placed under this contract for communication services and facilities for which rates, charges, and tariffs are not established by a government regulatory body, of any invention described in and covered by a United States patent (1) embodied in the structure or composition of any article the delivery of which is accepted by the Government under this contract or (2) used in machinery, tools, or methods whose use necessarily results from compliance by the contractor or a subcontractor with specifications or written provisions forming a part of this contract or with specific written instructions given by the Contracting Officer directing the manner of performance.

Sections it refers to

Sections that refer to it

← 52.226-8 Encouraging Contractor Policies To Ban Text Messaging While Driving. · 52.227-2 Notice and Assistance Regarding Patent and Copyright Infringement. →

Rule changes for FAR Part 52

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

FAR 52.227-1 Authorization and Consent · SpendQuery