>> So, one might argue that an AD can be unaware that a particular >> document includes something that needs to be disclosed up to the >> point that they take some action on that document, such as sponsoring it. > > Yes, but is that an issue? The AD is only required to disclose when > she is "reasonably and personally aware" of the need for a disclosure, > which will presumably become the case when she actually reads the draft > (or sees the slides that describe the technology in question). Be careful here: I think it is an issue. The "reasonably and personally aware" applies to the IPR, not to the participation. If I'm participating in active discussion about Section 4 of document X, and I should be reasonably and personally aware of IPR my employer holds with respect to Section 3 of document X, we aren't going to happily accept that I didn't read Section 3 so I don't have a responsibility to disclose. If we're saying that, say, ADs are considered to be Participants with respect to every document and discussion in every working group in the area -- and I see why some people think that's wise and appropriate -- then we're saying that I have a responsibility to disclose whether or not I've read the documents, and waiting until AD Evaluation state would be a late disclosure. Consider that the working group might have been proceeding for a couple of years and many I-D revisions under the assumption that the technology is unencumbered... and then I dump an IPR statement on them just as they've finished. This really is a tough one: it would be nice if the late disclosure didn't happen, but ADs can't reasonably be expected to read every draft in every working group early on... and, as others have said, it would be very bad if this disclosure requirement gave us even fewer AD candidates than we have now. Barry