Those who know me might understand why this CNET article makes me smile. Hint: I am quite familiar with the struggles another standardization organization has about the same issues.

It is a very tough and interesting issue, mostly from a policy point of view, as the legal issues are fairly simple (as long as everyone accepts the existence of software patents).

Now, arguably patents and royalties on telecom equipment are not quite in the same league as IPR encumbered software elements intended for mass distribution and adoption. Interestingly, the ITU could do both, therefore the consequences of a uniform IPR policy for recommendations will be significant.

[Update: when one of your pages is the first result on Google for a typo it’s time a) to learn to spell and b) to correct it]