[amsat-bb] Lost IP

[Michelle Thompson]

Why are you posting communications under NDA to a public list?

It's really not under dispute. The donated IP cores were lost and
the signed NDA was lost.

Now you post this in anger. I don't think that was wise.

If we had AMSAT board meetings, this sort of thing would have come up over
the past year in a more appropriate forum.

-Michelle W5NYV




On Thu, Jul 16, 2020 at 12:21 PM Jerry Buxton via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> 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
>
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