RFC 1822 INFORMATIONAL LEGAL · PATENTS

A Grant of Rights to Use a Specific IBM patent with Photuris

IBM's public grant concerning use of a patent with the Photuris key management protocol.

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PUBLISHED
August 1995
AUTHORS
J. Lowe
STREAM
Legacy
PATENT
U.S. Patent 5,148,479
GRANT SCOPE
Photuris and qualifying derivatives used with an Internet Protocol
DOI
10.17487/RFC1822

RFC text

Contents
Original text · RFC Editor View on rfc-editor.org ↗
Network Working Group                                            J. Lowe
Request for Comments: 1822                                           IBM
Category: Informational                                      August 1995


      A Grant of Rights to Use a Specific IBM patent with Photuris

Status of this Memo

   This memo provides information for the Internet community.  This memo
   does not specify an Internet standard of any kind.  Distribution of
   this memo is unlimited.

Note:

   This RFC is NOT a standard. It is an official public record of a
   grant by IBM Corporation for the use of a specific IBM patent in
   conjunction with the Photuris key management protocol.

Purpose

   This Request for Comments records a grant by IBM Corporation to
   permit the conditional free use of one of its patents.  This grant is
   made to help facilitate adoption of the Internet Key Management
   Protocol contribution IBM has offered to the IETF. It should be noted
   that the confirmatory license mentioned is optional.  The grant is
   made in this RFC and parties have it even if they do not request a
   confirmation from IBM.

A Grant of Rights to Use IBM US Patent 5,148,479

   IBM hereby covenants that it will not assert its US Patent 5,148,479
   or its non-US counterparts against any party that implements Photuris
   or any derivative that includes IBM's IKMP contribution, and operates
   in compliance with Photuris or such derivative, when Photuris or such
   derivative is employed in connection with any Internet Protocol.

   This grant of rights will terminate with respect to any party that
   asserts a patent it owns, directly or indirectly, against IBM for
   IBM's implementation of and operation in compliance with Photuris or
   any derivative, as defined above.  The termination will occur as of
   the date the patent is asserted against IBM.

   A written confirmation of this grant, and/or a license under any
   other IBM patent under IBM's then-current terms, conditions and
   royalty rates, can be obtained by sending a request to:

           John W. Lowe
           IBM Corporation
           500 Columbus Avenue
           Thornwood, New York  10594

Security Considerations

   The referenced protocol is a security-related protocol.

Author's Address

   John W. Lowe
   IBM Corporation
   500 Columbus Avenue
   Thornwood, New York 10594
   USA

ISO Plain Language

On this page
PROBLEMThe memo records IBM's terms for use of a specific patent in connection with the Photuris key management protocol.
MECHANISMIBM agrees not to assert the patent against parties that implement and comply with Photuris or a qualifying derivative used with an Internet Protocol.
THE CONDITIONSThe grant ends for a party that asserts its own patent against IBM for IBM's Photuris implementation. A written confirmation is optional.

§1A Patent Grant, Not a Standard

RFC 1822 explicitly says it is not a standard. It is a public record of an IBM grant for use of a specific IBM patent in conjunction with Photuris, the Internet Key Management Protocol contribution IBM offered to the IETF.

The RFC says the grant itself provides the rights. A confirmatory license from IBM is optional.

This is a record of a patent grant, not a technical specification. The grant is made in the RFC, so a separate written confirmation is optional.

§2When the Grant Applies

IBM covenants not to assert U.S. Patent 5,148,479 or its non-U.S. counterparts against a party that implements Photuris, or a derivative that includes IBM's IKMP contribution, and operates in compliance with Photuris or that derivative. The protocol must be used in connection with an Internet Protocol.

The grant ends for a party that directly or indirectly asserts a patent it owns against IBM for IBM's implementation and compliant operation of Photuris or a qualifying derivative. It ends on the date the patent is asserted.

IBM promises not to assert this patent against parties that implement and follow Photuris under the stated conditions. The grant ends for a party that asserts its own patent against IBM for IBM's qualifying use.

§3Confirmation and Security Note

A party may request written confirmation of the grant. The RFC also says a request may seek a license under other IBM patents, subject to IBM's then-current terms, conditions and royalty rates.

The Security Considerations section notes that the referenced protocol is security-related; it does not provide technical security guidance.

A written confirmation is available on request, as are separate licenses for other IBM patents under their terms. The memo only notes that Photuris relates to security.