Intellectual Property in Network Design

Thu Feb 12 12:36:33 UTC 2015

Actually Bill... I have two (conflicting) perspectives as I said.... but to
clarify:

1) A customer asked 'Can you make sure we have the IP for the network
design' which I was wondering if it is even technically possible....

2) If I design some amazing solutions... am I able to claim IP.

My gut feeling is no to both of them... because, if it happen (VERY LIKELY)
that somewhere, someone designs an network to the exact same specifications
- to the config line - Would that mean they have infringed on my IP
unknowingly, and how would I even know if I was unique in the first
instance?

What I am really looking for is some working, experience, precedence that
backs up the view that IP on network design is actually not possible...
which is my gut feeling.

In the past I have always stated that, and it's never been challenged...
and nor is it in this case... but, it is an important think I guess many of
us should probably be aware of where we stand.

...Skeeve

*Skeeve Stevens - Founder & Chief Network Architect*
eintellego Networks Pty Ltd
Email: skeeve at eintellegonetworks.com ; Web: eintellegonetworks.com

Phone: 1300 239 038 ; Cell +61 (0)414 753 383 ; Skype: skeeve

Facebook: eintellegonetworks <http://facebook.com/eintellegonetworks> ;
Twitter: eintellego <https://twitter.com/eintellego>

LinkedIn: /in/skeeve <http://linkedin.com/in/skeeve> ; Expert360: Profile
<https://expert360.com/profile/d54a9>

The Experts Who The Experts Call
Juniper - Cisco - Cumulus Linux - Cloud - Consulting - IPv4 Brokering

On Thu, Feb 12, 2015 at 7:45 PM, Bill Woodcock <woody at pch.net> wrote:

>
> I include a "no intellectual property ownership is transferred between the
> Parties" clause in just about everything we do.  Doesn't demand that any of
> the questions you raise be answered, but shuts the door to problems pretty
> firmly.
>
>
>                 -Bill
>
>
> > On Feb 12, 2015, at 17:20, Skeeve Stevens <
> skeeve+nanog at eintellegonetworks.com> wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > I have two perspectives I am trying to address with regard to network
> > design and intellectual property.
> >
> > 1) The business who does the design - what are their rights?
> >
> > 2) The customer who asked for the rights from a consultant
> >
> > My personal thoughts are conflicting:
> >
> > - You create networks with standard protocols, configurations, etc... so
> it
> > shouldn't be IP
> > - But you can design things in interesting ways, with experience, skill,
> > creativity.. maybe that should be IP?
> > - But artwork are created with colors, paintbrushes, canvas... but the
> > result is IP
> > - A photographer takes a photo - it is IP
> > - But how are 'how you do your Cisco/Juniper configs' possibly IP?
> > - If I design a network one way for a customer and they want 'IP', does
> > that mean I can't ever design a network like that again? What?
> >
> > I've seen a few telcos say that they own the IP related to the network
> > design of their customers they deploy... which based on the above...
> feels
> > uncomfortable...
> >
> > I'm really conflicted on this and wondering if anyone else has come
> across
> > this situation.  Perhaps any legal cases/precedent (note, I am not
> looking
> > for legal advice :)
> >
> > If this email isn't appropriate for the list... sorry, and please feel
> free
> > to respond off-line.
> >
> > ...Skeeve
> >
> > *Skeeve Stevens - Founder & Chief Network Architect*
> > eintellego Networks Pty Ltd
> > Email: skeeve at eintellegonetworks.com ; Web: eintellegonetworks.com
> >
> > Phone: 1300 239 038 ; Cell +61 (0)414 753 383 ; Skype: skeeve
> >
> > Facebook: eintellegonetworks <http://facebook.com/eintellegonetworks> ;
> > Twitter: eintellego <https://twitter.com/eintellego>
> >
> > LinkedIn: /in/skeeve <http://linkedin.com/in/skeeve> ; Expert360:
> Profile
> > <https://expert360.com/profile/d54a9>
> >
> >
> > The Experts Who The Experts Call
> > Juniper - Cisco - Cumulus Linux - Cloud - Consulting - IPv4 Brokering
>
>