The IEEE organization on Monday launched the IEEE 802.11 Patent Pool Exploratory Forum, which hopes to advance the IEEE 802.11 standards. Through the forum, owners of patents essential to IEEE 802.11 standards will discuss licensing practices, options for licensing administration issues related to launching a patent pool for IEEE 802.11-2012 and appropriate extensions to the standard.

The IEEE 802.11 Patent Pool Exploratory Forum was formed at the request of IEEE members in order to foster one or more patent pools covering IEEE 802.11-2012 technologies. IEEE in May announced the publication of IEEE 802.11-2012, which defines the technology for the world?s premier wireless LAN products. IEEE 802.11-based products are often branded as "Wi-Fi" in the market.

"Patent pools can play a valuable role in the lifecycle of a standardized technology because, for patent owners, they can reduce the burden of licensing administration and, for implementers, they can streamline the acquisition of patent licenses required to go to market with standards-based innovations," said John Whelan, vice chair of the IEEE 802.11 Patent Pool Exploratory Forum. "I?ve had experience with a number of patent pools of a variety of structures, and, in many cases, the creation of patent pools is simply too protracted, requiring multiple meetings and the associated travel, effort and expense. One of the goals of the IEEE 802.11 Patent Pool Exploratory Forum is to see if we can streamline the process, toward making pooling accessible across a broader range of standardized technologies."

Thirteen companies are participating in the forum.