Title 22—Foreign Relations--Volume 1
PART 125—LICENSES FOR THE EXPORT OF TECHNICAL DATA AND CLASSIFIED DEFENSE ARTICLES
§ 125.1   Exports subject to this part.
(a) The controls of this part apply to the export of technical data and the export of classified defense articles. Information which is in the public domain (see § 120.34 of this subchapter and § 125.4(b)(13)) is not subject to the controls of this subchapter.
(b) A license for the export of technical data and the exemptions in § 125.4 may not be used for foreign production purposes or for technical assistance unless the approval of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls has been obtained. Such approval is generally provided only pursuant to the procedures specified in part 124 of this subchapter.
(c) Technical data authorized for export may not be reexported, transferred or diverted from the country of ultimate end-use or from the authorized foreign end-user (as designated in the license or approval for export) or disclosed to a national of another country without the prior written approval of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls.
(d) The controls of this part apply to the exports referred to in paragraph (a) of this section regardless of whether the person who intends to export the technical data produces or manufactures defense articles if the technical data is determined by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to be subject to the controls of this subchapter.
(e) For the export of technical data related to articles in Category VI(e), Category XVI, and Category XX(b)(1) of § 121.1 of this subchapter, see § 120.5(c) of this subchapter.
(f) Unless limited by a condition set out in an agreement, the export, reexport, retransfer, or temporary import authorized by a license is for the item(s), end-use(s), and parties described in the agreement, license, and any letters of explanation. DDTC approves agreements and grants licenses in reliance on representations the applicant made in or submitted in connection with the agreement, letters of explanation, and other documents submitted.
§ 125.2   Exports of unclassified technical data.
(a) License. A license (DSP-5) is required for the export of unclassified technical data unless the export is exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter. In the case of a plant visit, details of the proposed discussions must be transmitted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls for an appraisal of the technical data.
(b) Patents. A license issued by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is required for the export of technical data whenever the data exceeds that which is used to support a domestic filing of a patent application or to support a foreign filing of a patent application whenever no domestic application has been filed. Requests for the filing of patent applications in a foreign country, and requests for the filing of amendments, modifications or supplements to such patents, should follow the regulations of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in accordance with 37 CFR part 5. The export of technical data to support the filing and processing of patent applications in foreign countries is subject to regulations issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 184.
(c) Disclosures. Unless otherwise expressly exempted in this subchapter, a license is required for the oral, visual or documentary disclosure of technical data by U.S. persons to foreign persons. A license is required regardless of the manner in which the technical data is transmitted (e.g., in person, by telephone, correspondence, electronic means, etc.). A license is required for such disclosures by U.S. persons in connection with visits to foreign diplomatic missions and consular offices.
§ 125.3   Exports of classified technical data and classified defense articles.
(a) A request for authority to export defense articles, including technical data, classified by a foreign government or pursuant to Executive Order 12356, successor orders, or other legal authority must be submitted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls for approval. The application must contain full details of the proposed transaction. It should also list the facility security clearance code of all U.S. parties on the license and include the Defense Security Service cognizant security office of the party responsible for packaging the commodity for shipment. A nontransfer and use certificate (Form DSP-83) executed by the applicant, foreign consignee, end-user and an authorized representative of the foreign government involved will be required.
(b) Classified technical data which is approved by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls either for export or reexport after a temporary import will be transferred or disclosed only in accordance with the requirements in the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (unless such requirements are in direct conflict with guidance provided by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in which case the latter guidance must be followed). Any other requirements imposed by cognizant U.S. departments and agencies must also be satisfied.
(c) The approval of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls must be obtained for the export of technical data by a U.S. person to a foreign person in the U.S. or in a foreign country unless the proposed export is exempt under the provisions of this subchapter.
(d) All communications relating to a patent application covered by an invention secrecy order are to be addressed to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (see 37 CFR 5.11).
§ 125.4   Exemptions of general applicability.
(a) The following exemptions apply to exports of technical data for which approval is not needed from the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. The exemptions, except for paragraph (b)(13) of this section, do not apply to exports to proscribed destinations under § 126.1 of this subchapter or for persons considered generally ineligible under § 120.16 of this subchapter. The exemptions are also not applicable for purposes of establishing offshore procurement arrangements or producing defense articles offshore ( see § 124.13), except as authorized under § 125.4(c). Transmission of classified information must comply with the requirements of the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (unless such requirements are in direct conflict with guidance provided by the Directorate of Defense Trade controls, in which case the latter guidance must be followed) and the exporter must certify to the transmittal authority that the technical data does not exceed the technical limitation of the authorized export.
(b) The following exports are exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter.
(1) Technical data, including classified information, to be disclosed pursuant to an official written request or directive from the U.S. Department of Defense;
(2) Technical data, including classified information, in furtherance of a manufacturing license or technical assistance agreement approved by the Department of State under part 124 of this subchapter and which meet the requirements of § 124.3 of this subchapter;
(3) Technical data, including classified information, in furtherance of a contract between the exporter and an agency of the U.S. Government, if the contract provides for the export of the data and such data does not disclose the details of design, development, production, or manufacture of any defense article;
(4) Copies of technical data, including classified information, previously authorized for export to the same recipient. Revised copies of such technical data are also exempt if they pertain to the identical defense article, and if the revisions are solely editorial and do not add to the content of technology previously exported or authorized for export to the same recipient;
(5) Technical data, including classified information, in the form of basic operations, maintenance, and training information relating to a defense article lawfully exported or authorized for export to the same recipient. Intermediate or depot-level repair and maintenance information may be exported only under a license or agreement approved specifically for that purpose;
(6) Technical data, including classified information, related to firearms not in excess of caliber .50 and ammunition for such weapons, except detailed design, development, production or manufacturing information;
(7) Technical data, including classified information, being returned to the original source of import;
(8) Technical data directly related to classified information which has been previously exported or authorized for export in accordance with this part to the same recipient, and which does not disclose the details of the design, development, production, or manufacture of any defense article;
(9) Technical data, including classified information, regardless of media or format, exported, reexported, or retransferred by or to a U.S. person, or a foreign person employee of a U.S. person travelling or on temporary assignment abroad, subject to the following restrictions:
(i) Foreign persons may only export, reexport, retransfer, or receive such technical data as they are authorized to receive through a separate license or other approval.
(ii) The technical data exported, reexported, or retransferred under this authorization may only be possessed or used by a U.S. person or authorized foreign person. Sufficient security precautions must be taken to prevent the unauthorized release of the technical data. Such security precautions may include encryption of the technical data; the use of secure network connections, such as virtual private networks; the use of passwords or other access restrictions on the electronic device or media on which the technical data is stored; and the use of firewalls and other network security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
(iii) The individual is an employee of the U.S. government or is directly employed by a U.S. person and not by a foreign subsidiary.
(iv) Technical data authorized under this exception may not be used for foreign production purposes or for defense services unless authorized through a license or other separate approval.
(v) Classified information is sent or taken outside the United States in accordance with the requirements of the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (unless such requirements are in direct conflict with guidance provided by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in which case such guidance must be followed).
(10) Disclosures of unclassified technical data in the U.S. by U.S. institutions of higher learning to foreign persons who are their bona fide and full time regular employees. This exemption is available only if:
(i) The employee's permanent abode throughout the period of employment is in the United States;
(ii) The employee is not a national of a country to which exports are prohibited pursuant to § 126.1 of this subchapter; and
(iii) The institution informs the individual in writing that the technical data may not be transferred to other foreign persons without the prior written approval of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls;
(11) Technical data, including classified information, for which the exporter, pursuant to an arrangement with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy or NASA which requires such exports, has been granted an exemption in writing from the licensing provisions of this part by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Such an exemption will normally be granted only if the arrangement directly implements an international agreement to which the United States is a party and if multiple exports are contemplated. The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in consultation with the relevant U.S. Government agencies, will determine whether the interests of the United States Government are best served by expediting exports under an arrangement through an exemption (see also paragraph (b)(3) of this section for a related exemption);
(12) Technical data which is specifically exempt under part 126 of this subchapter; or
(13) Technical data approved for public release ( i.e. , unlimited distribution) by the cognizant U.S. Government department or agency or Office of Freedom of Information and Security Review. This exemption is applicable to information approved by the cognizant U.S. Government department or agency for public release in any form. It does not require that the information be published in order to qualify for the exemption.
(c) Defense services and related unclassified technical data are exempt from the licensing requirements of this subchapter, to nationals of NATO countries, Australia, Japan, and Sweden, for the purposes of responding to a written request from the Department of Defense for a quote or bid proposal. Such exports must be pursuant to an official written request or directive from an authorized official of the U.S. Department of Defense. The defense services and technical data are limited to paragraphs (f), (g), and (h) (build-to-print, build/design-to-specification, and basic research, respectively) of § 120.43 of this subchapter and must not include paragraph (c), (d), (e), or (i) (design methodology, engineering analysis, manufacturing know-how, and applied research, respectively) of § 120.43.
§ 125.5   Exemptions for plant visits.
(a) A license is not required for the oral and visual disclosure of unclassified technical data during the course of a classified plant visit by a foreign person, provided: The classified visit has itself been authorized pursuant to a license issued by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls; or the classified visit was approved in connection with an actual or potential government-to-government program or project by a U.S. Government agency having classification jurisdiction over the classified defense article or classified technical data involved under Executive Order 12356 or other applicable Executive Order; and the unclassified information to be released is directly related to the classified defense article or technical data for which approval was obtained and does not disclose the details of the design, development, production or manufacture of any other defense articles. In the case of visits involving classified information, the requirements of the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual must be met (unless such requirements are in direct conflict with guidance provided by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in which case the latter guidance must be followed).
(b) The approval of the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls is not required for the disclosure of oral and visual classified information to a foreign person during the course of a plant visit approved by the appropriate U.S. Government agency if: The requirements of the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual have been met (unless such requirements are in direct conflict with guidance provided by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in which case the latter guidance must be followed); the classified information is directly related to that which was approved by the U.S. Government agency; it does not exceed that for which approval was obtained; and it does not disclose the details of the design, development, production or manufacture of any defense articles.
(c) A license is not required for the disclosure to a foreign person of unclassified technical data during the course of a plant visit (either classified or unclassified) approved by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls or a cognizant U.S. Government agency provided the technical data does not contain information in excess of that approved for disclosure. This exemption does not apply to technical data which could be used for design, development, production or manufacture of a defense article.
§ 125.6   [Reserved]
§ 125.7   Procedures for the export of classified technical data and other classified defense articles.
(a) All applications for the export or temporary import of classified technical data or other classified defense articles must be submitted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls on Form DSP-85.
(b) An application for the export of classified technical data or other classified defense articles must be accompanied by a completed form DSP-83 ( see § 123.10 of this subchapter). All classified materials accompanying an application must be transmitted to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls in accordance with the procedures contained in the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (unless such requirements are inconsistent with guidance provided by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in which case the latter guidance must be followed).
§ 125.8   [Reserved]
§ 125.9   Filing of licenses and other authorizations for exports of classified technical data and classified defense articles.
Licenses and other authorizations for the export of classified technical data or classified defense articles will be forwarded by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls to the Defense Security Service of the Department of Defense in accordance with the provisions of the Department of Defense National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (unless such requirements are in direct conflict with guidance provided by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, in which case the latter guidance must be followed). The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls will forward a copy of the license to the applicant for the applicant's information. The Defense Security Service will return the endorsed license to the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls upon completion of the authorized export or expiration of the license, whichever occurs first.