10 USC § 3793 - Copyrights, patents, designs, etc.; acquisition

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t10/s3793"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "10 USC § 3793 - Copyrights, patents, designs, etc.; acquisition"
title_number: 10
title_name: "ARMED FORCES"
section_number: "3793"
section_name: "Copyrights, patents, designs, etc.; acquisition"
chapter_number: 275
chapter_name: "PROPRIETARY CONTRACTOR DATA AND RIGHTS IN TECHNICAL DATA"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "OTHER PROVISIONS RELATING TO PROPRIETARY CONTRACTOR DATA AND RIGHTS IN TECHNICAL DATA"
part_number: "V"
part_name: "ACQUISITION"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 137, § 2386; Pub. L. 86–726, § 3, Sept. 8, 1960, 74 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 103–355, title III, § 3063, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3337; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title VIII, § 813, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 395; renumbered § 3793, Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1833(o)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4234; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(b)(12)(B), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2134.)"
---


# § 3793. Copyrights, patents, designs, etc.; acquisition

Funds appropriated for a military department available for making or procuring supplies may be used to acquire any of the following if the acquisition relates to supplies or processes produced or used by or for, or useful to, that department:

**(1)** Copyrights, patents, and applications for patents.

**(2)** Licenses under copyrights, patents, and applications for patents.

**(3)** Design and process data, technical data, and computer software.

**(4)** Releases for past infringement of patents or copyrights or for unauthorized use of technical data or computer software.

---

**Source Credit**: (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 137, § 2386; Pub. L. 86–726, § 3, Sept. 8, 1960, 74 Stat. 855; Pub. L. 103–355, title III, § 3063, Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3337; Pub. L. 104–106, div. A, title VIII, § 813, Feb. 10, 1996, 110 Stat. 395; renumbered § 3793, Pub. L. 116–283, div. A, title XVIII, § 1833(*o*)(2), Jan. 1, 2021, 134 Stat. 4234; Pub. L. 117–81, div. A, title XVII, § 1701(b)(12)(B), Dec. 27, 2021, 135 Stat. 2134.)

| Revised section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 2386 | 31:649b. | Aug. 1, 1953, ch. 305, § 609, 67 Stat. 350. |

The words “equipment, and materials” are omitted as covered by the word “supplies”. The word “hereafter” is omitted as executed. The words “may be used” are substituted for the words “shall * * * be available”. The words “if the acquisition relates to” are substituted for 31:649b (1st 8 words of last sentence). In clauses (1), (2), and (4), the word “patents” is substituted for the words “letters patent”.

## Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 3793, added , , , provided for boards of review, composed of three or more general officers, to be convened by Secretary of the Army, at such places as he prescribes, to review records of cases of officers recommended by boards of inquiry for removal from active list of Regular Army, prior to repeal by , title VII, § 701, , , 2955, effective .

### Amendments

2021—()(2), as amended by , renumbered  as this section.

1996—Par. (3).  amended par. (3) generally, substituting “Design and process data, technical data, and computer software” for “Technical data and computer software”.

1994—Pars. (3), (4).  added pars. (3) and (4) and struck out former pars. (3) and (4) which read as follows:

“(3) Designs, processes, and manufacturing data.

“(4) Releases, before suit is brought, for past infringement of patents or copyrights.”

1960— inserted “or copyrights” after “patents” in cl. (4).

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2021 Amendment

Amendment by  applicable as if included in the enactment of title XVIII of  as enacted, see , set out in a note preceding  and note below.

Amendment by  effective , with additional provisions for delayed implementation and applicability of existing law, see , set out as a note preceding .