The working group does not have any budget for any purpose (as far as
I am aware).
Obtaining a non-infringement opinion on even the most ridiculous claim
costs may tens of thousands of dollars in legal time and at least as
much in engineer time - if you can find one prepared to spend that much
time talking to lawyers.
Under UK law there is actually a tort of demanding monies based on
a bogus intellectual property claim.
I'd rather apply to the US patent office for a patent on some critical
biological function which according to the USPTO motto 'ask and ye
shall receive' would inevitably be granted. Then if anyone ever sued
we could file a cross claim and demand an injunction demanding that
they cease the bodily functions concerned pending the outcome of the
case.
Phill
-----Original Message-----
From: MMcClennan(_at_)jawstech(_dot_)com
[mailto:MMcClennan(_at_)jawstech(_dot_)com]
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2000 9:41 AM
To: Philip Hallam-Baker
Cc: bgreenblatt(_at_)directory-applications(_dot_)com;
ietf-smime(_at_)imc(_dot_)org;
owner-ietf-smime(_at_)mail(_dot_)imc(_dot_)org; phoffman(_at_)imc(_dot_)org
Subject: RE: New patent claim
Et all,
While I agree with Phil that the claims do not seem connected. I wonder
if
the S/MIME group has access
to a legal staff and could ask the question?
Mike McClennan
Director of Marketing - Secure Messaging
Tel: (416) 418-1144
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----------
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Philip Hallam-Baker
<pbaker(_at_)verisign(_dot_)co To: "'Bruce
Greenblatt'"
m>
<bgreenblatt(_at_)directory-applications(_dot_)com>, Paul
Sent by: Hoffman / IMC
<phoffman(_at_)imc(_dot_)org>,
owner-ietf-smime(_at_)ma
ietf-smime(_at_)imc(_dot_)org
il.imc.org cc:
Subject: RE: New
patent claim
06/22/00 10:48 AM
I also read the claims. I cannot see the connection.
What did come to mind as a possibility was that some lawyer persuaded
his client that he had to file the notice (and charged him a couple of
hundred bucks for doing so).
Phill
smime.p7s
Description: S/MIME cryptographic signature