Status of the IETF Intellectual Property Rights Policy 

Proprietary Report

Current as of September, 2003

Executive Summary

As of September  2003, The IETF has nearly completed updating its policies and procedures respecting the treatment of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) that may be essential or related to IETF recommendations. The IETF policy in this regard is key not only to the creation of standards underpinning the internet, but is also strategic as one of the world wide respected standards developing organizations creating precedents for many others. 

The GTW Report  presents a high level overview of the IETF organization and the governing procedures and guidelines applicable to the evolution of the revised policy. The charter, working process and key contributors to the IETF IPR working group are described and identified. The key documents and their status are identified and summarized. The relevance of the IETF POISED email group and its related work on IETF process and procedures matters is explained.

I The IETF IPR policy

II IETF Processes and working methods

III IETF IPR working group

IV IETF IPR working group documents

V IETF POISED discussion group

CONTACT GTW Associates for Licensing Information