Mike, all, Referring only to this: On 4/4/16, 21:30, "ietf on behalf of Michael Cameron" <ietf-bounces@xxxxxxxx on behalf of michael.cameron@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: >[...] >Also, because no-one should be expected to predict the outcome of the uncertain patent prosecution process, the phrase "may ultimately Cover that Contribution" should be deleted in Section 5.1.2. > >Thus, I would propose Section 5.1.2 be amended as follows: > >If an individual Participates relative to a written Contribution (other than a Contribution that is not intended to be used as an input into the IETF Standards Process) made by another person and such Participant personally knows of IPR meeting the conditions of Section 5.6 which the Participant believes Covers, or which the Participant personally knows his or her employer or sponsor may assert against Implementing Technologies based on such written Contribution, then such Participant must make a disclosure in accordance with this Section 5. >[...] My current feeling is that the removal of the “ultimately covered” phrase would have the opposite effect you apparently desire. It would lead to more irrelevant disclosures, not less. The definition of “Cover” is fairly broad, and includes not only "claims of patent and applications (including provisional applications)”, but also “other IPR”, and that IPR, in my interpretation, would also cover provisional applications without claims. In other words, from the definition of “Cover” alone it is already clear to me that a discloser must take into account applications with all the uncertainty of the prosecution process that entails. That’s intentional, and hopefully not subject of this discussion. We definitely want people to disclose applications, as early in their respective process as possible. The phrase “ultimately covers” gives some wiggle room to cut down on disclosures of applications that ultimately may not cover the Contribution, but would based on the claims currently on file. I, at least, have interpreted that phrase in the past (yes, it is present in RFC 3979) such that if I were certain that an overbroad claim--like those routinely filed by European-trained lawyers when filing US provisionals--will not survive prosecution unamended, I would determine my disclosure requirement based on my interpolation of a claim that I think can realistically survive. I happen to know that at least two IPR departments advised their IETF delegates to act similarly. Doing so cuts down on the disclosure of applications that are not likely relevant to the Contribution, while still preserving timeliness of disclosures, including disclosures against provisionals. This is “running code”, as we call it in the IETF. Unless I see a very clear, very detailed explanation (including case law if available) why it is bad, I would be very reluctant to support a change. Stephan