Stephan Wenger <stewe@xxxxxxxxx> writes: > Hi John, > > please note that the vast majority of IETF IPR disclosures promise patent > licenses only on technologies described in an I-D in the event that the I-D > becomes an IETF "standard". This avoids the problems you mentioned nicely, > I think, at the expense of some uncertainty when people implement I-Ds that > do not become standards, and some uncertainly during the prototyping/early > deployment phase---which, so far, most if us can comfortably live with. > > In short: The licensing promise kicks in only once an I-D becomes an "IETF > standard" (interpreted by most of us as an RFC is published). In any other > stage there is no licensing promise. Some statements are more carefully > worded about the subtleties of "standard" then others... but most seem to > have the same intention. The problem is that there is no time limit on when the I-D can become an IETF standard. Someone can pick up a 5 year old I-D and do the work involved in getting it standardized; I believe our process allows for that. If patent disclosures are removed during that time, IETF participants are denied the possibility to learn about patent disclosures for the technology. I don't believe that is consistent with the IETF policy. /Simon _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf