Section 784.4 - Advance waiverThis section covers inventions that may be conceived or first actually reduced to practice in the course of or under a particular contract. In determining whether an advance waiver will best serve the interests of the United States and the general public, the Secretary or designee (currently the Assistant General Counsel for Technology Transfer and Intellectual Property) shall, at a minimum, specifically include as considerations the following:
(a) The extent to which the participation of the contractor will expedite the attainment of the purposes of the program;(b) The extent to which a waiver of all or any part of such rights in any or all fields of technology is needed to secure the participation of the particular contractor;(c) The extent to which the work to be performed under the contract is useful in the production or utilization of special nuclear material or atomic energy;(d) The extent to which the contractor's commercial position may expedite utilization of the research, development, and demonstration results;(e) The extent to which the Government has contributed to the field of technology to be funded under the contract;(f) The purpose and nature of the contract, including the intended use of the results developed thereunder;(g) The extent to which the contractor has made or will make substantial investment of financial resources or technology developed at the contractor's private expense which will directly benefit the work to be performed under the contract;(h) The extent to which the field of technology to be funded under the contract has been developed at the contractor's private expense;(i) The extent to which the Government intends to further develop to the point of commercial utilization the results of the contract effort;(j) The extent to which the contract objectives are concerned with the public health, public safety, or public welfare;(k) The likely effect of the waiver on competition and market concentration;(l) In the case of a domestic nonprofit educational institution under an agreement not governed by Chapter 18 of Title 35, United States Code, the extent to which such institution has a technology transfer capability and program approved by the Secretary or designee as being consistent with the applicable policies of this section;(m) The small business status of the contractor under an agreement not governed by Chapter 18 of Title 35, United States Code, and(n) Such other considerations, such as benefit to the U.S. economy, that the Secretary or designee may deem appropriate.