Export Control Exclusions and Implications

Research is not subject to export controls if it qualifies for at least one of three exclusions:

(1) Fundamental research exclusion;

(2) Public domain exclusion; and

(3) Education Information Exclusion.

The Fundamental research exclusion is a broad-based general legal exclusion to protect technical information (but not tangible items) involved in research from being controlled by export controls. In other words, research qualifying as “fundamental research” is not subject to export controls.

The public domain exclusion applies to information that is published and that is generally accessible or available to the public through:

The educational information exclusion covers commonly taught in courses listed in catalogues and associated teaching laboratories of academic institutions in the United States.

If the U.S. Government funds research and specific controls are agreed on to protect information resulting from the research, then information resulting from the project will not be considered fundamental research. Such controls are usually contained in contractual clauses. Examples of "specific controls" include requirements for prepublication “approval” by the Government; restrictions on dissemination of information to non-U.S. citizens or other categories of persons; or restrictions on participation of non-U.S. citizens or other categories of persons in the research.

This action is an indication that the direction of the research or some other factor has changed the project in some way to render the export control regulations applicable to this project and that, more than likely, the researcher’s work will now be export controlled.  Contact Export Control before continuing work on the project to re-evaluate for export control protocols.