IBM and BlueCat Networks Sign Patent Cross-License Agreement

Toronto, Canada – October 5, 2011 – BlueCat Networks, the IPAM Intelligence™ company, today announced that it has entered into a patent cross-licensing agreement with IBM (NYSE: IBM) that will allow the two companies to partner and leverage each other’s inventions in order to foster innovation in IP Address Management (IPAM) and IPv6 transitioning.

Key takeawaysThis key takeaway was generated through LLMs crawling the page and coming up with an overview of the content.

BlueCat Networks announced a patent cross-licensing agreement with IBM to collaborate on IP Address Management (IPAM) and IPv6 transitioning, with a focus on enabling virtual data center initiatives. This partnership addresses the real-world problem of IPv4 address depletion by helping organizations plan and execute IPv6 migration to maintain global connectivity and reduce IT management costs. The collaboration leverages IBM and BlueCat inventions to foster innovation, support virtualized and cloud environments, and deliver centralized IP core services that simplify managing everything IP from a single pane of glass.

What is the primary purpose of the patent cross-licensing agreement between BlueCat Networks and IBM?

The primary purpose of the patent cross-licensing agreement is to allow BlueCat Networks and IBM to leverage each other’s inventions to foster innovation in IP Address Management (IPAM) and IPv6 transitioning. The collaboration is intended to help clients prepare for IPv6, especially in the context of virtual data centers, by combining intellectual property and technical approaches that support centralized IP core services. This arrangement aims to encourage interoperability and joint solutions that reduce the complexity and risk of migrating from IPv4 to IPv6 while supporting new IP-dependent services.

How does BlueCat describe the role of IPAM in the transition to IPv6 and virtual data centers?

BlueCat describes IP Address Management (IPAM) as an essential technology for easing the transition to IPv6 and enabling virtual data centers and cloud services. According to the article, IPAM helps organizations centrally manage IP resources ‘from a single pane of glass,’ which reduces IT management costs, supports faster rollout of new IP-dependent services, and makes networks more resilient and easier to manage. The company emphasizes that effective IPAM can mitigate the operational impact of IPv4 depletion by ensuring continuity of connectivity with customers, partners, and suppliers in global markets.

What benefits do clients gain from BlueCat and IBM working together on IPv6 and IPAM?

Clients benefit from the collaboration through access to combined intellectual property and solutions that address IPv4 depletion and the operational challenges of IPv6 migration. The partnership is positioned to help organizations prepare for IPv6, reduce IT management costs, accelerate service rollouts, and support data center virtualization and consolidation. By integrating IPAM capabilities with virtual data center initiatives, the joint work aims to create a more dynamic, resilient, and cost-effective network environment that simplifies management of growth, change, and new technologies such as IPv6 and DNSSEC.

New Partnership in IPAM and IPv6 Transitioning Offers Exceptional Value to Clients

Toronto, Canada – October 5, 2011 – BlueCat Networks, the IPAM Intelligence™ company, today announced that it has entered into a patent cross-licensing agreement with IBM (NYSE: IBM) that will allow the two companies to partner and leverage each other’s inventions in order to foster innovation in IP Address Management (IPAM) and IPv6 transitioning.

IBM and BlueCat Networks’ collaboration is focused on the Virtual Data Center. With the depletion of IPv4 addresses, organizations need to start planning now for the transition to IPv6 to avoid losing connectivity with customers, partners and suppliers in global markets. BlueCat Networks and IBM are working together to help clients prepare for IPv6 by using IP Address Management (IPAM) to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

“Given IBM’s role as a technology leader, a strategic partnership made a lot of sense to us as we have a number of Fortune clients looking into the shift to IPv6″ said Michael Hyatt, co-founder and CEO of BlueCat Networks. “This agreement with IBM is a terrific example of how companies can work together in the spirit of cooperation and innovation. We look forward to working with IBM in the future.”

“IBM has been the leading recipient of U.S. patents for 18 consecutive years and is committed to licensing intellectual property to encourage innovation and collaboration,” said Ken King, general manager, Intellectual Property and vice president of Research Business Development, IBM. “This patent cross license with BlueCat Networks will provide a foundation for organizations to prepare for IPv6 with IP Address Management (IPAM). ”

BlueCat Networks’ IP Address Management solutions provide an essential technology for helping organizations transition to IPv6, reduce IT management costs, launch new IP-dependent services including virtual data centers and clouds, and manage network growth and change.

About IBM

Please visit http://www.ibm.com/ibm100/us/en/icons/patents/

About BlueCat Networks

BlueCat Networks is a leading provider of smart, simple, scalable IP Address Management (IPAM) solutions. With tightly-integrated IP core services, our software solutions give organizations the power to centrally manage “everything IP” in their network from a single pane of glass. The result is a dynamic network that is more resilient, cost effective and easier to manage.

Rated in the highest “Strong Positive” category in the Gartner 2011 MarketScope for DNS, DHCP and IP Address Management, BlueCat Networks’ feature-rich and future-ready solutions have helped Global 2000 companies and government agencies reduce costs and solve today’s most critical IT challenges – from accelerating the rollout of new services and optimizing core services in the branch office to data center virtualization and consolidation. We also help organizations manage growth and change by easing the transition to new technologies such as IPv6 and DNSSEC. For more information, visit https://bluecatnetworks.com.

Proteus, Adonis, IPAM Intelligence, IPAM for Everyone and BlueCat Networks are trademarks of BlueCat Networks, Inc. and/or BlueCat Networks (USA) Inc.  Other products mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The use of the word “partner” or “partnership” does not imply a legal partnership relationship between VMware and any other company.

Get in touch

We’re the DDI provider you’ve been looking for.
Drop us a line and let’s talk.

Related content

Isometric dashboard illustration showing a circular "33 Total Devices" donut chart, issue counts, and filter controls

BlueCat moves agentic AI from insight to action with new AI integrations

Extends its Intelligent NetOps platform to help organizations unlock measurable AI value through a unified data foundation

Read more
Headshot of a man in a suit and striped tie wearing rectangular glasses against a blurred office background

BlueCat appoints Jeff McCullough as Vice President, Worldwide Channel and Alliance

Experienced channel leader will drive partner-led growth and support partners in generating revenue and value within BlueCat’s global ecosystem

Read more
BlueCat logo above Horizon product name with stylized network horizon graphic and glowing center

BlueCat introduces BlueCat Horizon, a SaaS-first Intelligent NetOps platform for cross-domain network operations

The platform delivers a unified control plane for DNS, DHCP, IPAM, security, and observability, empowering rapid, automated action across networks

Read more
Report cover titled "The Network Observability Maturity Model" with EMA and BlueCat logos and purple design accents

Fewer than half of enterprises are fully successful with network observability tools

Fragmented tools and cloud blind spots are straining NetOps, but a new five-stage maturity model charts the path to excellence.

Read more