Arlington, VA – In case you missed it, Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) President and CEO Eric Fanning penned an op-ed in the Washington Times urging Congress to reject “right-to-repair” provisions in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, warning they could harm innovation.
“On paper, these provisions sound reasonable: give the Pentagon and third parties broad access to contractors’ proprietary intellectual property (IP) to fix and maintain equipment,” Fanning writes. “But this approach won’t solve our readiness problems, and it could cripple the very innovation our warfighters rely on.”
In the op-ed, Fanning underscores the importance of protecting intellectual property, especially for small and mid-sized companies—the backbone of America’s defense industrial base. “They rely on IP protections to justify the high costs of developing advanced technologies,” he continues.
Fanning finishes by encouraging Congress to focus on making reforms that address the root causes of sustainment challenges. “Let’s double down on what works: invest in workforce development, modernize infrastructure, and strengthen supply chains. The Pentagon already has the tools to get the IP it needs—let’s use them more effectively, not create new mandates that undermine innovation.”
Read the full op-ed here.
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