U.S. technical-data publication and export controls

Publication is not one legal category

Under the Export Administration Regulations, much unclassified technology and software that is made publicly available without dissemination restrictions is treated as published information. However, the rules contain specific exceptions.

For example, 15 CFR 734.7(c) keeps certain machine-ready electronic files for producing covered firearms, frames, or receivers subject to the EAR even if the files are posted publicly. General technical prose and manufacturing-ready controlled data are not automatically treated the same way.

Treat attachments individually

• Record origin, owner, author, rights, source version, and file type.
• Determine the relevant regulatory jurisdiction and classification before release.
• Do not assume that public availability elsewhere makes a new online release lawful.
• Preserve review decisions, dates, and licensing records where applicable.
• Get qualified export-control review for uncertain or regulated material.

Important operational distinction

A domestic server address or geographic filter is not itself an export authorization. Publication and access rules are defined by the applicable classification and legal requirements, not by a chosen domain name.

This page is a guide to the publication workflow, not an export classification or legal determination for a particular file.