IETF Rights in Contributions
RFC 3978

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Network Working Group                                    S. Bradner, Ed.
Request for Comments: 3978                            Harvard University
BCP: 78                                                       March 2005
Obsoletes: 3667
Updates: 2026
Category: Best Current Practice

                      IETF Rights in Contributions

Status of this Memo

   This document specifies an Internet Best Current Practices for the
   Internet Community, and requests discussion and suggestions for
   improvements.  Distribution of this memo is unlimited.

Copyright Notice

   Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2005).

Abstract

   The IETF policies about rights in Contributions to the IETF are
   designed to ensure that such Contributions can be made available to
   the IETF and Internet communities while permitting the authors to
   retain as many rights as possible.  This memo details the IETF
   policies on rights in Contributions to the IETF.  It also describes
   the objectives that the policies are designed to meet.  This memo
   updates RFC 2026, and, with RFC 3979, replaces Section 10 of RFC
   2026.

Table of Contents

   1.  Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
   2.  Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
   3.  Rights in IETF Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       3.1.  General Policy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       3.2.  Confidentiality Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
       3.3.  Granting of Rights and Permissions. . . . . . . . . . .   6
       3.4.  Representations and Warranties. . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       3.5.  No Duty to Publish. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
       3.6.  Trademarks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
   4.  Rights in RFC Editor Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       4.1.  Requirements from Section 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
       4.2.  Granting of Rights and Permissions. . . . . . . . . . .   8
   5.  Notices Required in IETF Documents. . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
       5.1.  IPR Disclosure Acknowledgement. . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
       5.2.  Derivative Works Limitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10

Bradner, Ed.             Best Current Practice                  [Page 1]
RFC 3978              IETF Rights in Contributions            March 2005

       5.3.  Publication Limitation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
       5.4.  Copyright Notice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
       5.5.  Disclaimer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
       5.6.  Exceptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
   6.  Notices and Rights Required in RFC Editor Contributions . . .  13
   7.  Exposition of why these procedures are the way they are . . .  13
       7.1.  Rights Granted in IETF Contributions. . . . . . . . . .  13
       7.2.  Rights to use Contributed Material. . . . . . . . . . .  14
       7.3.  Right to Produce Derivative Works . . . . . . . . . . .  14
       7.4.  Rights to use Trademarks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
       7.5.  Who Does This Apply To? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
   8.  Contributions Not Subject to Copyright. . . . . . . . . . . .  16
   9.  Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
   10. References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
       10.1. Normative References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
       10.2. Informative References. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
   11. Acknowledgements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
       Editor's Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
       Full Copyright Statement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18

1.  Definitions

   The following definitions are for terms used in the context of this
   document.  Other terms, including "IESG," "ISOC," "IAB," and "RFC
   Editor," are defined in [RFC2028].

   a. "IETF":  In the context of this document, the IETF includes all
      individuals who participate in meetings, working groups, mailing
      lists, functions and other activities which are organized or
      initiated by ISOC, the IESG or the IAB under the general
      designation of the Internet Engineering Task Force or IETF, but
      solely to the extent of such participation.

   b. "IETF Standards Process": the activities undertaken by the IETF in
      any of the settings described in 1(c) below.

   c. "IETF Contribution": any submission to the IETF intended by the
      Contributor for publication as all or part of an Internet-Draft or
      RFC (except for RFC Editor Contributions described below) and any
      statement made within the context of an IETF activity.  Such
      statements include oral statements in IETF sessions, as well as
      written and electronic communications made at any time or place,
      which are addressed to:

      o  the IETF plenary session,
      o  any IETF working group or portion thereof,