"Today's decision by the IEEE Board of Directors is a significant victory for consumers and for those who want a reasonable and stable patent system that supports innovation.

In making this decision, the IEEE supported those companies who are willing to both grant and receive licenses for patents required for use in IEEE standards on reasonable terms.  We congratulate the IEEE for resisting pressure from the few who wanted to use the patent system to force unreasonable costs on makers and users of everyday products like smartphones and wireless routers.

Today's decision will help ensure that owners of patents required to implement standards won't be able to use their leverage to obtain unreasonable royalties.

Cisco will work with the IEEE and other stakeholders to ensure that the new clarifications are implemented in a fair and equitable manner."