Department Of Justice Will Not Oppose Proposal On Patent Information Policy

The Department of Justice announced today that it will not oppose a proposal by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (IEEE) to implement a policy on the disclosure and licensing of patents in IEEE's standards-setting process. The policy will allow patent holders to commit publicly to specific restrictions on their future licensing terms and conditions for the use of patents that are essential to IEEE standards. The Department said that the proposed policy may enable IEEE to make better informed decisions when formulating standards that will benefit consumers.

The Department's position was stated in a business review letter from Thomas O. Barnett, Assistant Attorney General for the Department's Antitrust Division, to counsel for IEEE and its standards association, IEEE-SA. IEEE is a non-profit association for technology professionals with diverse interests. IEEE-SA, IEEE's standards development organization (SDO), develops and issues standards used in industries such as information technology, power and energy, instrumentation and measurement, mobile and stationary batteries, nanotechnology, organic electronics, telecommunications, and transportation safety. Read more at usdoj.gov.