Defense right to repair spurs debate over contractors' IP rights
By Nick Robertson ( July 29, 2026, 17:07 GMT | Comment) -- The US House and Senate versions of the 2027 National Defense Authorization Act each endorse a right to repair for the military, which would expand US government access to technical data, an outcome that defense companies warn could weaken IP protections. But some IP scholars instead say the provisions would protect patents and trade secrets while also bolstering national defense.The US military’s fiscal year 2027 budget will likely include a right-to-repair provision, expanding the government's default access to technical data in acquisition contracts, despite protests from the defense industry about risks to their intellectual property....
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