FAR and DFARS › FAR Part 52: Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses › Subpart 52.2
FAR 52.227-3 Patent Indemnity.
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 requires the contractor to indemnify the Government against liability for infringing U.S. patents arising from the contractor's work under the contract. The indemnity does not apply unless the contractor is promptly informed of the infringement suit and given a chance to participate in the defense, and it excludes certain situations such as compliance with specific written instructions or unauthorized settlements.
Applies to: Contractors performing work under a contract that includes this clause
What it requires
- Indemnify the Government and its officers, agents, and employees against liability, including costs, for patent infringement arising from the contract work.
- Participate in the defense of any infringement suit if given the opportunity under applicable laws, rules, or regulations.
Key terms: indemnify · infringement · United States patent · Secrecy Order · construction work
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(c)(1), insert the following clause:
Patent Indemnity (APR 1984)
(a) The Contractor shall indemnify the Government and its officers, agents, and employees against liability, including costs, for infringement of any United States patent (except a patent issued upon an application that is now or may hereafter be withheld from issue pursuant to a Secrecy Order under 35 U.S.C. 181) arising out of the manufacture or delivery of supplies, the performance of services, or the construction, alteration, modification, or repair of real property (hereinafter referred to as construction work) under this contract, or out of the use or disposal by or for the account of the Government of such supplies or construction work.
(b) This indemnity shall not apply unless the Contractor shall have been informed as soon as practicable by the Government of the suit or action alleging such infringement and shall have been given such opportunity as is afforded by applicable laws, rules, or regulations to participate in its defense. Further, this indemnity shall not apply to (1) an infringement resulting from compliance with specific written instructions of the Contracting Officer directing a change in the supplies to be delivered or in the materials or equipment to be used, or directing a manner of performance of the contract not normally used by the Contractor, (2) an infringement resulting from addition to or change in supplies or components furnished or construction work performed that was made subsequent to delivery or performance, or (3) a claimed infringement that is unreasonably settled without the consent of the Contractor, unless required by final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
(End of clause)
Alternate I (APR 1984). As prescribed in 27.201-2(c)(2), add the following paragraph (c) to the basic clause:
(c) This patent indemnification shall not apply to the following items: ____ [Contracting Officer list and/or identify the items to be excluded from this indemnity]
Alternate II (APR 1984). As prescribed in 27.201-2(c)(2), add the following paragraph (c) to the basic clause:
(c) This patent indemnification shall cover the following items: _____
List or identify the items to be included under this indemnity
Alternate III (JUN 2020). As prescribed in 27.201-2(c)(3), add the following paragraph to the basic clause:
( ) As to subcontracts at any tier for communication service, this clause shall apply only to individual communication service authorizations over the simplified acquisition threshold, as defined in Federal Acquisition Regulation 2.101 on the date of subcontract award, issued under this contract and covering those communications services and facilities (1) that are or have been sold or offered for sale by the Contractor to the public, (2) that can be provided over commercially available equipment, or (3) that involve relatively minor modifications.
← 52.227-2 Notice and Assistance Regarding Patent and Copyright Infringement. · 52.227-4 Patent Indemnity—Construction Contracts. →
Rule changes for FAR Part 52
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary FAR Overhaul Parts 8, 12, 13, 15, 38, 44, and 51 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 16, 17, and 35 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 9, 27, and 47 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 14, 28, 36, and 52 ↗ · proposed 2026-09-18 · comments due 2026-10-19
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 3 and 49 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 5, 24, and 29 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 6, 7, 10, 18, 26, 37, and 41 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulation Overhaul Parts 1, 2, 4, 33, 39, 40, and 53 ↗ · proposed 2026-06-23 · comments due 2026-07-23
Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Plain words for the terms: glossary.