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