What is the license issue with PoweredUSB?
IBM owns the intellectual rights to PoweredUSB. IBM has a one time licensing fee of $5,000.00 for the ability to use this technology. It is further defined by IBM that the one time fee of $5,000.00 would only be applicable in the direct retail vertical market of the business and not be valid in other areas like banking. IBM also stipulates that licensees of PoweredUSB technology are able to manufacture and sell this product directly to end users only. Companies wanting to resell products through distributors and resellers would also have to enter a licensing contract with IBM to sell these products. As mentioned in the “Who owns the rights to the PoweredUSB technology” section under the IBM Patent page, companies like HP, NCR, CyberData and Fujitsu have entered into contractual agreements directly with IBM allowing these companies to produce PoweredUSB products without any encumbrances for multiple levels of sales channels.
