Technical documentation and intellectual property rights in military knowledge management – a normative and operational analysis
Technical documentation and intellectual property rights in military knowledge management – a normative and operational analysis

Summary/Abstract: In contemporary defence environments, the ability to structure, secure and operationalise institutional knowledge underpins strategic autonomy and operational continuity. This article addresses a research gap as the knowledge management literature rarely treats technical documentation architectures and intellectual property rights (IPR) regimes as co-determinants of knowledge consolidation and modernisation capacity. The authors employ a normative-analytical and qualitative content analysis of legal acts and standards(e.g. Decision No. 155/MON, Directive 2009/81/EC, NATO standardisation documents – STANAG, AAP-48 and S1000D), supplemented by examples from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, European Union and Polish practice. The findings underscore that effective management of technical documentation and IPR enhances defence capabilities, supports interoperability and strengthens industrial autonomy. The study further calls for the routine integration of ex ante legal-economic assessments into procurement processes, the harmonisation of IPR regimes among allied states, investments in digital repositories and staff expertise, and – ultimately – the recognition of technical documentation as a strategic asset. Future research should explore artificial intelligence-enabled knowledge management tools, cross-border IPR governance in joint acquisition programmes, and standardised risk-modelling frameworks for defence documentation.

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