[amsat-bb] Lost IP

[Jerry Buxton]

While the rash of accusations, misinformation, and spin that is the
hallmark of AMSAT election time the past two years carries on at a
dizzying pace, I feel the need to speak up as (to borrow on a famous
quote) "the reports of my complete stupidity are an exaggeration".

A  background as quoted from historical emails regarding one false claim
follows.  Names of non-AMSAT Engineering volunteers have been removed
and volunteer names are used only when needed for context. 

1/26/2016
> Not sure if I closed the loop at the end of last week or not. After
> talking with AHA (nice intro from [REDACTED]), and talking with
> Notorious [REDACTED], and the space team, everyone is excited about
> DVB-S2X for both Phase 4 and Ascent (and HEO). 
>
> AHA is going to come back with some sort of offer/deal/marketing magic
> in a couple-three weeks. This would be for the payloads. Ground team
> designs an open source receiver from the standard up. 
>
> I think if we want to go for it, we should buy an implementation of
> DVB-S2X for ascent, use format 0 for the very low SNR stuff, and start
> designing! 

7/29/2016
> Attached is an archive with documents for the AHA DVB-S2X IP cores.
> Note that there is a folder titled “Confidential – Protected under
> NDA”. These documents should not be posted on a public forum (anyone
> can get to the github site right?) and should be distributed on an “as
> needed” basis to those that understand / have been briefed on the
> conditions of the NDA.

8/12/2016
> M       ,
>
> Please review the AHA NDA, sign the affirmation, and return it to me.
>
> If there are others we need to include you may pass these along to them
> with the same instructions.  Please be sure that we have an affirmation
> signed by the others who will be attending the meeting at AHA, before
> they have access to the materials.
>
> I will talk to the Texas contingent after we determine whether we can
> have a webinar or not, they can't travel to the meetings in person due
> to the length of time involved.
>
> I will keep the documents secured on an AMSAT server and we can pull
> them out to distribute as we determine who needs to see them and have
> their affirmation.
>
> Thanks!
>
> --
> Jerry Buxton, NØJY
> Vice President - Engineering

> Here you go! :+)
> [in response, with completed NDA attached]

-------------------
As stated, the documents are secured on an AMSAT server.  There are only
two NDA affirmations on file with the documents, on the server.

> \P4B\AHA NDA\Affirmations
> Buxton NDA Affirmation-signed.pdf
> T        NDA Affirmation Signed MDT.pdf

It should be noted that the same property mentioned in the 7/29/2016 was
sent to Virginia Tech partners in the same email as to AMSAT.  I do not
have any insight to their NDA (if any) with the owner of the IP.

With no other NDA affirmations on file to date much less those as
requested for the meeting or use of the property, it would appear that
neither the team that went to the meeting nor any other person in AMSAT
Engineering needed access to the IP?  Absent any acquisition of the
files from the server by someone who had signed the NDA affirmation for
distribution without my knowledge (affirmation is required in order for
me to provide them with the passwords for the archives) it would appear
that the need for the IP was not realized.  This may have been due to
the termination of the Heimdallr "CQC" project, or the departure of many
CQC ASCENT Engineers to ORI, or both.  And there may certainly have been
other reasons that our engineers chose not to pursue use of DVB-S2X for
a period of time.

The IP and NDA still exists and to the best of my understanding of it,
the agreement for use and non-disclosure is still effective.  There will
no doubt be opportunities for use in HEO as was first mentioned in the
negotiation and enthusiasm for use of the IP with P4B, CQC, and future
HEO, despite the termination of CQC and the hold (at least at this time)
on any VT need of help for P4B.

When AMSAT Engineers are working an idea as ASCENT or P4B, a design idea
as was GOLF, or a project as is GOLF now, if there is technology that is
shown to be useful with a proper need to justify the cost of the
technology and resulting implementation of new satellites, I have
historically supported the Engineering Team by doing what bosses do by
providing them with the tools they need to do great work.  The AHA is
such an example and shows the trust I have had with all of the engineers
under my supervision including those who I may not have or do not now,
necessarily agree with or see eye to eye.  To me it makes no sense to
derail AMSAT progress over personal feelings.  That's just the me that
was elected VPE.  Ask any engineer, and we may have disagreed or argued
over things along the way but we continue to work together and things
turn out happy for everyone.  It is unfortunate but part of life that
some just cannot put aside differences to reach that common goal.  In
the recent situation I believe it has something to do with the fact that
I am not considered of the caliber of the upper class who knows all
things about space and technology and it is probably easily shown that I
am in many regards, in their point of view, stupid.  I can take that,
but as I said these reports of my COMPLETE stupidity are an exaggeration.

I could research and respond to other statements that exaggerate my best
asset as well, honestly the time spent is better spent doing what we do
to keep satellites going up.  This email did not happen in two minutes,
it was in excess of two hours.  I think that is part of the election
time disruption plan, distracting everyone and causing extra work and
FUD, but despite the high noise floor your dedicated Engineering Team
volunteers haven't looked up from their work.  And I do not intend to
take any more of my AMSAT time to address any other concocted
statements, I say that with the hope and belief that you can all realize
that these statements only come from one source and no one, ever, has
asked the other party (i.e. me in this case) for their statement on the
subject before the stuff gets flung to the masses as truth.  Even a
rocket scientist would realize that you can't accomplish anything of
value working with only one half, one "all knowing" engineer's view, of
the needed information.  And that right there is all that need be said
regarding the source of the stuff flying my way.

As I said I hope that this gives you some thought to the truth of this
instance but I must raise one more important consideration before I
close; All or many of your fellow hams in AMSAT Engineering are
implicated by this and other not-true, broad claims - I will not
tolerate that and I think it is fair to ask that you do not engage in or
tolerate that either.  Thank you.

-- 
Jerry Buxton, NØJY