Export Controls are federal laws and regulations that govern the transfer of goods, technologies, related technical data, and some services and money. They are intended to protect national security, economic interests and foreign policy of the United States. While these laws are not new, they have received more attention post 9/11. Today, as global threats increase, there are heightened concerns about national security and stricter interpretation and enforcement of export control laws by the federal government. 

Export Control Regulations:

• Export Administration Regulations (EAR) - Implemented by the Department of Commerce for items that have both a commercial and potential military use
• International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) - Implemented by the Department of State for military items and defense services
• Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions 

Is anything excluded from export control laws?

• Educational information normally taught at a university
• Public information such as patents, websites, books, papers, publicly available software
• Fundamental research- basic or applied research normally published and broadly shared