InterDigital Inc (IDCC)

[richbloem]

Davids, a contribution does not a patent make. A contribution to a standard is simply a solution to a particular problem or even the discovery of a problem that would make the standard work or not work. For example: there are many working committees in the standard bodies. All working on different portions of the standard. They get together for a meeting to discuss last weeks business and on-going studies. Somebody points out that if they limit the max speed to XXX it will have an adverse effect on XXX. The chair then appoints one of the members or the group as a whole to work the problem and report back by the next meeting. The report back with a solution and the committee approves it by vote and it is written into the standards. That is considered a contribution, but may or may not have any effect on patents and or may be one of many possible solutions that could be accepted.

In summation a contribution may or may not involve a patent or if it does, may or may not involve your own patents. It could just as easy be based on patents owned by others.