Re: [codec] Skype IPR disclosure

[Stephan Wenger <[e-mail]>]

Hi Rob, list,

Again a long email; sorry for that.

With hat:

I missed the PCT application as I was focused only on the newer of the two
Skype disclosures, and was multitasking between listening to the IETF 77
plenary and writing my last email.  I apologize for this mistake.  And I
agree with you that the Skype PCT application has been properly disclosed to
the IETF.  

I have not intended to imply that Skype or its IETF-contributing employees
have failed its disclosure obligation with respect to the GB patent.  They
may have, or they may have not.  I would think that this depends on factors
such as whether the GB application is being prosecuted‹it may have been
abandoned‹and similar factors.  (The same holds even more so for the PCT
application, given the transitory nature of PCT applications.)

When I provide information about my impression of the compliance of
individuals and/or a company with BCP79, I do so based on statements
received in the form of IETF contributions and IPR disclosures.  If, for
example, Dr. Chen mentions during his IETF presentation that Broadcom has
essential patents on their proposal, but there is no IPR disclosure on file,
that¹s most likely a situation where BCP 79 rules were not followed, and Dr.
Chen and/or Broadcom should fix that.  But I¹m not going to hunt down the
status and prosecution history of every single patent or application in a
family, in order to identify whether there may actually be other patents or
applications that would be in need for disclosure.  That¹s their job, not
mine.  The consequences of not following IPR policies are known to those of
us with legal inclinations.

In the Skype GB patent application case, the situation is unclear to me as I
did not, and will not, study the status of the GB patent application myself.
In such a case I assume by default that they are in compliance with BCP 79.

I guess that we will learn over time, by the presence or the absence of an
updated IPR disclosure, whether Skype thinks that they have a disclosure
obligation of the GB patent application.
  
I stick to my previous assertion that it is inappropriate to post patent
numbers and/or hyperlinks to patents on the mailing list.  The tracker is
the right place to inform people about patents.

Hat off:

You asked me not to loose substance here.  Fair.  Let¹s not loose substance:

In your posting, you have pointed engineers, many of which without formal
legal training, let alone being qualified patent lawyers, to patent
documents and, at least implicitly, encouraged the study of patents.  You
facilitated this by posting patent numbers and hyperlinks to patents on a
technical mailing list.  I believe we both agree that such a study can
expose individuals, and certainly their employers, to certain risks.

I believe that we share a basic interpretation of the policy in that it is
within the mandate of an IETF working group to take into account known
patent rights, and, to a certain extend, even their commercial
(licensing/non-assert) terms.  That may include discussions of patent
subject matter, work around solutions to avoid patent claims, and such.  I
believe that the core of our disagreement is only the question how related
discussions are conducted.  Is it really necessary to directly point people
towards patent claims, with patent numbers, hyperlinks, possible cut-paste
of claim language?  Or would be it sufficient to be just a bit more subtle?

Using the concrete example at hand, starting a discussion on the abstract
concept of ³the specific value of a particular technique of noise level
estimation² is absolutely within the mandate of this WG and this list.  I
have never objected to that.  Making a request like ³In the context of IETF
IPR declaration xxx, I would like to get a full understanding of the
specific value of a particular technique of noise level estimation² is IMO
also absolutely within the mandate here.  Stating ³the commercial terms
identified in the IETF IPR disclosure xxx may not be fully aligned with my
business interest.  Therefore, I would prefer designing around the protected
technology.  In this context, would someone help me with an understanding of
the specific value of a particular technique of noise level estimation²
seems also ok to me (although the wisdom of making such a statement is not
immediately apparent to me).  Paraphrasing a particular technique certainly
is.  Even limited citations from the patent specification may be.

Using such formulations provide interested individuals with sufficient
information to access the patents which you want them to study, and/or
identify the subject matter.  Those other people, however, who, by company
policy, lack of interest on patent matters, or for any other reason, are not
interested in patents, are not confronted with offending numbers, nor are
they in danger of accidently downloading patent documents they are neither
qualified, nor allowed by company policy, to study.

Regards,
Stephan


On 3.25.2010 09:23 , "Rob Glidden" <[e-mail]> wrote:

> Stephan:
> 
> I don't see why you seem to be implying that Skype has failed to disclose IPR
> -- seems opposite to me.
> 
> As said below, this IPR was already responsibly disclosed by the owner -- the
> PCT is listed right there in 1164, and the GB application is referenced for
> priority and incorporated by reference in the patent. Hard to see how this
> could be more clear.
> 
> Yes, BCP 79 section 6.4.1 says disclosures "must list the numbers of any
> issued patents or published patent applications or indicate that the claim is
> based on unpublished patent applications" and section 6.4.2 encourages
> disclosing material changes -- Skype is doing all this, no?
> 
> Please don't lose the substance here -- ie the nature of a licensing
> disclosure and the specific value of a particular technique of noise level
> estimation.
> 
> Your surmise that IETF might have a motive in BCP 79 to defacilitate
> deliberation by working groups looks counter to the text of the doc.
> 
> Rob
> 
> Stephan Wenger wrote:
>>  Re: [codec] Skype IPR disclosure Hi Rob,
>>  
>> Wearing my ³technical advisor to the IESG on IPR matters² hat:
>>  
>> I¹m commenting in this email only on the ³third party disclosure² subject.  I
>> may comment on the other subject later, as, admittedly, they are more murky.
>> Phrasing a reply certainly requires more undistracted time than I have now
>> (sitting in the IETF77 plenary).
>>  
>> I note that you have provided information of two patent applications that
>> have not been recited in Skype¹s declaration.  Specifically, neither the GB
>> application, nor the PCT application, have been disclosed by Skype.  Nowhere
>> in BCP 79 or in the IETF¹s current practice I find language or common conduct
>> indicating that, by disclosing one or more patent family members, one has to
>> infer that all patent family members are disclosed.  If you are aware of such
>> language, I would appreciate a pointer.
>>  
>> In this light, I continue to believe that you were not within the language,
>> nor the spirit, of BCP 79 when you cited these patent numbers.
>>  
>> Advisor hat off, private statement:
>>  
>> Rob, you are a lawyer, and are listed in the IP law section of the CA bar
>> association.  You are a professional in this field.  Most of the subscribers
>> of this *technical* working group list are not.  They may not know what harm
>> could befall them, and their employers, if they start reading someone else¹s
>> patents, and perhaps start commenting in public on it.
>>  
>> It is my understanding that one motivation for moving the IPR disclosures to
>> an isolated area of the IETF¹s web page has been to ensure that accidental
>> reading and commenting on someone else¹s patents is not facilitated.  By
>> providing patent numbers and handy hyperlinks to those patents, you have very
>> efficiently interrupted this isolation.
>>  
>> I don¹t think this is a fair tactic, and I don¹t think it can do us any
>> good‹not even those parts of the community with business interests that are
>> apparently aligned with yours.  In the worst case, legal departments of
>> careful companies may require their employees to unsubscribe from the codec
>> WG, and stop attending meetings.  No contributions from these people to the
>> IETF, no disclosures, no other IPR data points to consider.  Fog over the
>> minefield.  This cannot be your intention.  I hope.
>>  
>> Individuals with sufficient knowledge and interest to assist you in reading
>> patents and interpreting patent subject matter almost certainly have the
>> knowledge to find a patent or application once they have a number.  Those who
>> don¹t probably could ask you in private.  Or they can ask google.  As we all
>> know, google has answers for everything :-)
>>  
>> Trying to be constructive, I wonder whether you, or someone else, would be
>> willing to run a mailing list outside of the IETF¹s organized setting, in
>> which you and other interested participants can discuss patent claims to your
>> hearts content, without contaminating the IETF list with patent numbers,
>> claim language, and other legal stuff that raises red flags in so many IETF
>> companies.  
>>  
>> Regards,
>> Stephan
>>  
>>  
>> On 3.24.2010 17:50 , "Rob Glidden" <[e-mail]> wrote:
>>  
>>   
>>> Stephan:
>>>  
>>> (apologies for long email)
>>>  
>>> Thanks for the reminder.  I've re-read 3979 and 4879 (on third party
>>> disclosures), and you are wise to encourage care.
>>>  
>>> However, in this case the IPR has already been responsibly disclosed by the
>>> owner.  So this thread is not disclosing any IPR of a third party, for which
>>> as you indicate sections 6.1.2 and 3 (on IPR of others) would be appropriate
>>> -- by form or email.
>>>  
>>> Rather, 3979 clearly expects working groups to use the disclosures, once
>>> made, in their evaluations and deliberations.
>>>  
>>>    6.5 Since IPR disclosures will be used by IETF working groups during
>>>    their evaluation of alternative technical solutions, it is helpful if
>>>    an IPR disclosure includes information about licensing of the IPR in
>>>    case Implementing Technologies require a license.
>>> This includes the licensing information in the disclosures:
>>>  
>>>    The inclusion of licensing information in IPR disclosures is not
>>>    mandatory but it is encouraged so that the working groups will have
>>>    as much information as they can during their deliberations.
>>> And in weighing alternatives:
>>>  
>>> 8. IETF working groups have the discretion
>>>    to adopt technology with a commitment of fair and non-discriminatory
>>>    terms, or even with no licensing commitment, if they feel that this
>>>    technology is superior enough to alternatives with fewer IPR claims
>>>    or free licensing to outweigh the potential cost of the licenses.
>>> and even in developing broader IETF consensus:
>>>  
>>> An IETF consensus
>>>    has developed that no mandatory-to-implement security technology can
>>>    be specified in an IETF specification unless it has no known IPR
>>>    claims against it or a royalty-free license is available to
>>>    implementers of the specification unless there is a very good reason
>>>    to do so.
>>>  
>>> And you are also wise in reminding that the IETF will not make
>>> determinations for many excellent reasons, but
>>> Although the IETF can
>>>    make no actual determination of validity, enforceability or
>>>    applicability of any particular IPR claim, it is reasonable that a
>>>    working group will take into account on their own opinions of the
>>>    validity, enforceability or applicability of Intellectual Property
>>>    Rights in their evaluation of alternative technologies.
>>> So I'd suggest this dialog is both in scope and constructive, fully in
>>> spirit and letter of BCP 79, seeking to clarify the nature of a licensing
>>> disclosure and the specific value of a particular technique of noise level
>>> estimation and application of opposite non-linear functions.
>>>  
>>> Rob
>>>  
>>> Stephan Wenger wrote:
>>>   
>>>>  Re: [codec] Skype IPR disclosure Hi Rob, all,
>>>>  
>>>> Wearing my ³technical advisor on IPR matters hat²:
>>>>  
>>>> Please let me remind you that the IETF takes no position on scope and
>>>> validity of patent claims.  I don¹t believe that the use of an IETF mailing
>>>> list to collaboratively create such a position‹even it it were not marked
>>>> as an IETF position‹is appropriate.  Please refrain from using this list
>>>> for such discussions.
>>>>  
>>>> Further, I¹m also not sure that everyone here‹even a majority‹appreciates
>>>> being advised of patents through means other than the IETF¹s IPR tracking
>>>> system.  It is certainly against language and spirit of BCP 79.  If you
>>>> want to advise people of third party IPR henceforth, please use the
>>>> tracker.  Feel free to contact me in private it you need logistic help with
>>>> that.
>>>>  
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Stephan
>>>>  
>>>>  
>>>>  
>>>> On 3.24.2010 15:13 , "Rob Glidden" <[e-mail]> wrote:
>>>>  
>>>>   
>>>>   
>>>>> I would agree that the wording seems to go beyond a narrow non-assert into
>>>>> business strategy, and this is furthered by potentially ambiguous
>>>>> phrasings such as "royalty free, reasonable and non discriminatory terms".
>>>>> "RF" and "RAND" might overlap in some definitions, but they are not the
>>>>> same.
>>>>>  
>>>>> Also I would note the two statements (1297 and 1164) appear to be (only?)
>>>>> a single patent application for a method of estimating noise levels with 3
>>>>> independent claims.  As further progress is made, it might be helpful to
>>>>> understand scope and prior art, and relationship to an entire
>>>>> contribution, and the specific quantified value of the novelty identified
>>>>> in the international search opinion of applying opposite non-linear
>>>>> functions.
>>>>>  
>>>>> Though not reflected in the disclosure, the US application claims priority
>>>>> to a Great Britain Application No. 0703275.8, filed Feb. 20, 2007.
>>>>>  
>>>>>  
>>>>> http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%
>>>>> 2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&co1=AND&d=PG01&s1=12%2F00
>>>>> 6057&OS=12/006057&RS=12/006057
>>>>>  
>>>>> The PCT is at:
>>>>>  
>>>>>  http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?WO=2008102207
>>>>>  
>>>>> Perhaps someone familiar with this application would correct any
>>>>> mis-impressions above?
>>>>>  
>>>>> Rob
>>>>>  
>>>>>  
>>>>> Benjamin M. Schwartz wrote:
>>>>>   
>>>>>   
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> stephen botzko wrote:
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>> I think it is unreasonable to require IPR holders to unconditionally
>>>>>>> promise
>>>>>>> to not assert their patents under any and all circumstances.
>>>>>>>     
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>    
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> I am not asking for such an unconditional promise.  I am just noting some
>>>>>> restrictions that seem especially onerous to me.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>> In practice the first clause does not immunize Skype from lawsuits.
>>>>>>> Many
>>>>>>> companies have similar "defensive suspension" clauses, and they still
>>>>>>> get
>>>>>>> sued fairly regularly.
>>>>>>>     
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>    
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> There are different kinds of defensive suspension.  For example, the W3C
>>>>>> allows defensive suspension, but only for lawsuits on patent
>>>>>> infringement:
>>>>>> """
>>>>>> a W3C Royalty-Free license ... may be suspended with respect to any
>>>>>> licensee when licensor is sued by licensee for infringement of claims
>>>>>> essential to implement any W3C Recommendation ... [but] may not impose
>>>>>> any
>>>>>> further conditions or restrictions
>>>>>> """
>>>>>> (http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Patent-Policy-20030520#sec-Requirements)
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> That seems like a reasonable case for defensive suspension.  Skype's
>>>>>> wording, by contrast, is totally unreasonable, as it extends the
>>>>>> defensive
>>>>>> suspension to _all_ lawsuits, no matter their object.  I expect most
>>>>>> companies to use the IWAC, and maybe even most humans eventually.  The
>>>>>> retroactive revocation means that these people can be deterred from suing
>>>>>> Skype/Ebay even after the patents have all expired.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> It's absurd, not to mention legally questionable.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>> The second clause ensures that someone outside the IETF cannot take the
>>>>>>> Skype technology, improve it, and offer a competitive proprietrary codec
>>>>>>> that uses Skype IPR. If you modify the codec, you should be doing it in
>>>>>>> the
>>>>>>> context of the IETF standard.
>>>>>>>     
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>>  
>>>>>>    
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> And once the standard is made?  Skype could effectively block the IETF
>>>>>> from creating an improved version of its own codec, or any optional
>>>>>> extensions (they're not "necessary").  I don't think that's reasonable at
>>>>>> all.
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> --Ben
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>  
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> 
>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>> codec mailing list
>>>>>>  [e-mail]
>>>>>>  https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/codec
>>>>>>   
>>>>>>  
>>>>>>  
>>>>>   
>>>>>  
>>>>>  
>>>>>  
>>>>> 
>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>> codec mailing list
>>>>>  [e-mail]
>>>>>  https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/codec
>>>>>  
>>>>>  
>>>>  
>>>  
>>>  
>>>  
> 
>