| | 161 | Intellectual Property and BitTorrent Standards |
| | 162 | ============================================== |
| | 163 | |
| | 164 | Any idea submitted in a BEP will not be considered for standardization |
| | 165 | if the idea is not in the public domain. Before a BEP can be |
| | 166 | considered Final, all people or entities with a claim on the |
| | 167 | intellectual property expressed in a BEP (including the BEP authors) |
| | 168 | must assign in writing all intellectual property expressed in the BEP |
| | 169 | to the public domain. If the BEP authors lack the power to assign |
| | 170 | intellectual property rights then they must disclose this fact before |
| | 171 | the BEP can be considered Final. |
| | 172 | |
| | 173 | Furthermore BEP authors should not knowingly propose anything in their |
| | 174 | BEPs that infringe on the intellectual property rights of others. |
| | 175 | |
| | 176 | |
