The DVB Project is to adopt new procedures governing intellectual property rights as part of the organisations ongoing review of IPRs. It follows member concerns over the delay in launching the MHP licensing programme and questions from the European Commission over the need for timely disclosure on IPR licensing terms. The terms for MHP licensing set out at the 2006 DVB World conference by Via Licensing were widely perceived as being responsible for putting the brakes on the development of the interactive middleware.
The DVB has outlined the new procedures as follows:
- Those responding to a “Call for Technology” may be requested to confirm a willingness to enter into a patent pool;
- The early launch of the pooling effort can be promoted through the convening of information meetings while a specification is still under development;
- Once a pool is in formation by rights holders and a facilitator, the DVB Project Office will monitor the progress of the pool and, where required, lend technical and other support to help completion of the programme; and
- Assertions of essentiality of patents included within a pool may be subject to “peer review” by DVB specialists.
The new measures are designed to complement the DVB’s existing light touch approach to patent pools.
