Contents

• Contents
• Introduction
  • The Free Protocols Foundation Mission
  • The Patent Debate
  • How Patents Affect Protocols
  • Difficulties Relating to Software and Protocol Patents
  • Terminology
  • About the Free Protocol Policies and Procedures
  • About this Document
• The Protocol Development Process
  • Phases of Development
  • Role of the Free Protocols Foundation
  • Comparison to Standards Organization Processes
• The Free Protocols Foundation
  • General Philosophy
  • Purpose, Activities and Scope
  • Other Activities
• Free Protocol Development Working Groups
• Patent-Free Declarations
  • Author's Declaration
  • Working Group Declaration
• Patents, Copyright and Confidentiality - Policy Statement
  • Policy Statement Principles
  • General Policy
  • Confidentiality Obligations
  • Rights and Permissions of All Contributions
  • FPF Role Regarding Free Protocol Specifications
• Bibliography