Keeping It Private

Helping network providers ensure their customers’ privacy under IPv6.

Problem
Anyone who runs a data network, large or small, must keep privacy at the top of the list of essential items. Unless a network provider can give adequate assurance of privacy in communications, customers will not find its service acceptable. Under the existing Internet standard, IPv4, there are standard, state-of-the-art techniques for assuring privacy that are generally successful. IPv6 potentially offers even more privacy, since it includes built-in encryption and other solutions. However, those solutions must be deployed properly. If they are not, the network provider may actually be providing its customers with a lower degree of privacy under IPv6 than it did under IPv4. When network providers contract with companies that build their IPv6-compliant networks, they need to assure that privacy will not be compromised.

Actions
In representing network providers, we can draft contract terms that will require certain privacy benchmarks from the company that is building their IPv6 networks. We can also draft contract terms that will ensure that the risk of failing to provide adequate privacy, and all costs involved in providing adequate privacy, will fall on the vendor, not the network provider. Womble Carlyle attorneys are experienced in drafting warranty and other provisions that will bring about the solution that our network provider clients need.

Results
Network providers will be able to make the needed transition to IPv6-compliant networks, will be able to satisfy their customers’ privacy needs, and will be free of litigation over privacy requirements in their networks.

Contact
For more information contact Ted Claypoole at (704) 331-4910 or email.