What Researchers Need to Know

About Laptops and GPS Equipment

 

Researchers commonly take their laptops with them, both across campus and around the world.  Researchers need to be aware that they are effectively exporting their laptops not only when they take their laptop abroad, but also when they allow a person in a foreign country to use their laptop or allow a foreign national access to their laptops in the United States.  The same applies to global positioning systems (GPS.)

 

o Laptops and GPS, and their underlying software, are covered by the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”) and, in some cases, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (“ITAR”).

o Export regulations vary based on the country to which a researcher is traveling and purpose for which the researcher intends to use the laptop or GPS.

o A license exception (see below) may apply to the export of the laptop or GPS in question, and if so, a researcher may be able to take that equipment abroad without violating the EAR or ITAR.

 

Taking Laptops Out of the Country

o Excluding embargoed countries, faculty who wish to take their laptops out of the country to use in a university project that qualifies as fundamental research may be able to do so under the license exception for temporary export (TMP) if the laptop meets the requirement for “tools of trade” and is under control of the researcher.

 

A Laptop and GPS Decision Tree is available to assist a researcher with evaluating whether there may be any export issues related to taking a laptop or GPS abroad.  (Used with permission of Columbia University.)

 

 

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