Fundamental Research Exclusion

As used in the export control regulations, fundamental research includes basic or applied research in science and/or engineering at an accredited institution of higher learning in the United States, where the resulting information is ordinarily published and shared broadly in the scientific community. Fundamental research is distinguished from other types of research that results in information, which is restricted for proprietary reasons or restricted pursuant to specific U.S. government access and dissemination controls. If the research falls under the Fundamental Research Exclusion, no further concern about the need for an export license would arise.

OSU research will not be deemed to qualify for this exclusion if: (1) OSU or the OSU Investigator accepts any restrictions on the publication of the information resulting from the research, other than limited pre-publication review by research sponsors to ensure that proprietary information is not inadvertently disclosed in publication or to ensure that the publication will not compromise the patent rights of the sponsor; or (2) the research is federally funded, and specific access and dissemination controls regarding the resulting information have been accepted by OSU or the Investigator.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember three key facts about the Fundamental Research Exclusion: (1) it applies only to the dissemination of research data and information, not to the transmission of material goods. 

The following NEVER qualify for the Fundamental Research Exclusion:

  • Physical goods
  • Software
  • Encryption
  • Research when there is no intention to publish the results
  • Research conducted out of the United States

In addition, the exclusion may not apply to information relating to export-controlled equipment used in research projects and classes. Universities have assumed that they could share such information with foreign nationals without a license, since the information is being used while conducting fundamental research. However, recent interpretations by the federal government suggest that an export control license may be required in a fundamental research project before information about the use of controlled technology can be shared with foreign nationals working on the project. As this is a currently developing issue, we will update these materials as the issue evolves.

“Side deals” between an OSU Investigator and a sponsor destroy the Fundamental Research Exclusion and may violate University policies on “Openness in Research.” A “side deal” may occur where any Investigator has a private agreement with a sponsor whereby they will conduct their research project in a manner that will permit the sponsor the right to approve a publication and/or to restrict foreign nationals on a research project to comply with the sponsor’s requirements. Such actions can destroy the Fundamental Research Exclusion and can expose both the individual Investigator on the project and OSU to penalties.

Public Domain and Publicly Available Exclusion

Information that is published and generally available to the public, as well as publicly available technology and software is outside the scope of the export control regulations. This exclusion does not apply to encrypted software, to information if there is reason to believe it may be used for weapons of mass destruction, or where the U.S. government has imposed access or dissemination controls as a condition of funding.

Public Domain (22 CFR 120.11) means information that is ALREADY published and that is generally accessible or available to the public: (1) through sales at newsstands and bookstores; (2) through subscriptions that are available without restriction to any individual who desires to obtain or purchase the published information; (3) through second-class mailing privileges granted by the U.S. government; (4) at libraries open to the public or from which the public can obtain documents, including most MIT Libraries; (5) through published patents; (6) through unlimited distribution at a conference, meeting, seminar, trade show, or exhibition, generally accessible to the public, in the United States (ITAR) or anywhere (EAR); (7) through public release (i.e., unlimited distribution) in any form (e.g., not necessarily in published form) after approval by the cognizant U.S. government department or agency, including websites accessible to the public for free and without the host’s knowledge of or control of who visits or downloads the software and/or information (clearly acceptable under EAR and likely acceptable under ITAR); and (8) through fundamental research.

Educational Instruction Exclusion

Export control regulations do not apply to information released in academic catalog-listed courses or in teaching labs associated with those courses. This means that a faculty member teaching a University course may discuss what might otherwise be export-controlled technology in the classroom or lab without an export control license even if foreign national students are enrolled in the course. This exclusion is based on the recognition in ITAR that “information concerning general scientific, mathematical, or engineering principles commonly taught in schools, colleges, and universities, or information in the public domain” should not be subject to export control restrictions.