KNOW-HOW AND PATENT RIGHTS One of the difficulties with negotiated contracting, particularly the cost-reimbursement type and with research and development work at Government expense, is that the know-how which is paid for by the taxpayer and which should be public domain for the benefit of everyone and under the Government's control, is actually controlled by the contractor. It is thus difficult for the Government to know what has been developed at its expense and to make the know-how available in connection with later contracts. Obviously public domain in one form or another belongs to all the people. A uniform patent policy recognizing these points should be developed which will be controlling on all Government agencies. CONTRACTING WITH LARGE CORPORATIONS There has been a constant upward trend in the placement of military procurement with the large contractors. For the period July 1, 1958, to June 30, 1959, 100 companies and their subsidiaries received $16.681 billion of the total contracts of $22.592 billion, or 73.8 percent.22 The 10 largest companies-General Dynamics Corp., Boeing Airplane Co., North American Aviation, Inc., General Electric Co., Lockheed Aircraft Corp., Douglas Aircraft Co., United Aircraft Corp., Martin Co., Hughes Aircraft Co., American Telephone & Telegraph Co.-received $476.5 million or 37 percent of the total. One hundred companies and their subsidiaries listed according to net value of military prime contract awards, July 1, 1958, to June 30, 1959 One hundred companies and their subsidiaries listed according to net value of military prime contract awards, July 1, 1958, to June 30, 1959-Continued One hundred companies and their subsidiaries listed according to net value of military prime contract awards, July 1, 1958, to June 30, 1959-Continued |