What Is The TDP?

[3 AE]

There have been several threads concerning Colt,FN,and others as to who makes what for the U.S. Military,who,what,and why they claim to be "Mil-Spec",and what is in store for the future in reference to the M-4/M-16 platform. This is a simplified explanation and feedback that cuts to the chase and provides a little background of what it means. Hope this helps to alleviate any future miscommunication and prevent a certain shall I say "tension" from surfacing in future posts. ;) http://vuurwapenblog.com/2010/09/27/what-is-the-tdp/

[Evil Bert]

I'm curious as that source states that Colt has exclusive rights to the TDP, but Army Times reported (http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/07/army_carbine_070609w/) a year earlier that the Army now has sole rights to the M4 TDP. Colt was a contractor to the government so nothing dealing with that contract belongs to colt. It was work for hire so to speak. So now I am curious. Who owns the TDP?

[fdxpilot]

I'm curious as that source states that Colt has exclusive rights to the TDP, but Army Times reported (http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/07/army_carbine_070609w/) a year earlier that the Army now has sole rights to the M4 TDP. Colt was a contractor to the government so nothing dealing with that contract belongs to colt. It was work for hire so to speak. So now I am curious. Who owns the TDP?

If you read the whole deal, the first comment outlines the Army's ability to second-source the M4 as of July 2009, using Colt's TDP but requiring a royalty to Colt.