Re: CLA question (was: Re: Regarding start of Community Group beta today (2011-06-28))

On 30 Jun 2011, at 8:13 AM, ri@odrl.net wrote:

> 
> On 30 Jun 2011, at 20:07, Kristian Sons wrote:
> 
>> Company A has a bright idea for CG B and contributes it. Now it's published as agreed by CLA. For some reason, CG B is not successful and discontinues its work. Now company A decides to exploit the bright idea in a proprietary product and would like to protect the idea using a patent.
> 
> <non-legal-advice>
> 
> Hi Kristian - since you have contributed (ie made public) the "bright idea", you will not be able to Patent it.
> 
> </non-legal-advice>

That's not exactly it. 

You can patent whatever you would like. However, essential patents must be available according to the terms of the CLA (which includes RF licensing).

Ian

> 
> Cheers
> 
> Renato Iannella
> ODRL Initiative
> http://odrl.net
> 
> 
> 
> 

--
Ian Jacobs (ij@w3.org)    http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs/
Tel:                                      +1 718 260 9447

Received on Thursday, 30 June 2011 13:18:27 UTC