Internet Standards and Intellectual 

                            Property Rights 

                             November 1993 

                              Vint Cerf  

Revision 2 of Internet Draft 9/93 "The Internet Standards Process" 

 1. Contributors grant to ISOC perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty- free,
    world-wide license to: 

    a) distribute (+ many other verbs) 

    b) Make derivative works and distribute 

    c) authorize others to do so 

    (ISOC can confirm to requestors rights to reproduce and distribute
    Internet Standards). 

 2. Contributors warrant they can grant rights above 

 3. ISOC has no confidentiality obligation w.r.t. contributions 

 4. Contributors warrant their contributions don't violate other's rights 

 5. Material submissions become the property of ISOC 

 When appropriate, written confirmation of terms are to be obtained by IETF
Exec Dir or designee (email is ok) 

 Principal contributors to Standards will be identified by WG chair or
editor of document. Only named contributors asked to confirm terms. 

 All contributors asked to inform the IETF Secretariat of any known
proprietary claims in any Standards. 

 If someone asserts proprietary rights, must inform editor or WG chair.
Include person as named contributors (with confirmed terms) or edit to
remove the contributions. 

Principle: 

 ISOC will not endorse or maintain Standards subject to copyrights,
patents, patent applications or other rights without prior written
assurances from rights owners that: 

 1. Any party can get rights to implement the standard and use it under
    specified, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. [ISOC won't try 
    to evaluate terms, though] 

 2. Party giving assurances must assert the right and power to do so.  


NOTICES ON STANDARDS-TRACK RFCs 

 1. Standards using proprietary elements will bear notice assuring
    non-discriminatory, reasonable licensing terms. 

 2. Note to all interested parties to inform IETF Exec Dir of any
    proprietary rights claims. 

 3. If applicable:  "As of <date>, no proprietary claims indications received" 

 4. Copyright Notice 

    "Copyright (c) ISOC <year>" 

    "Permission is granted to reproduce (etc) any Internet Standards material
    subject to ISOC Copyright, provided credit is given to the source. See 
    IETF Executive Director for questions." 

    [Note - these notices and provisions allow ISOC to authorize reproduction
    of Internet Standards without restrictions.] 

 5. Disclaimer 

    ISOC disclaims all warranties, including merchantability or fitness for a
    particular purpose. Nor can ISOC guarantee that the document or the
    standard does not violate the rights of others. 

    [Possibility of unknown claims of proprietary rights.]  

 First Live Test of Transfer: 

 SUN Microsystems NFS, etc. 

 Documents in draft for comment by end of November.