Govt. COVID Contracts Authorized Private Entities To Use IP, KEI Finds

Federal agencies signed numerous contracts with private entities that granted those entities broad authorization to use protected intellectual property without asking for permission from rights holders, Knowledge Economy International found in a what it called an “eye-opening” review of contracts with companies involved in the COVID-19 pandemic response. The U.S. government assumed responsibility for compensating any rights holders who objected to the use of their patented inventions. Among the entities given permissions are major pharmaceutical companies like Moderna, Eli Lilly,...