[OpenID board] Trademark problem?

[Dick Hardt]

On 2-Dec-08, at 1:54 PM, Eddy Nigg (StartCom Ltd.) wrote:
> We could think about, that whoever can't disclose willingness to  
> join the foundation in some form or the other, shouldn't apply in  
> first place. I know that some here will not agree with that  
> statement, however as an OPEN foundation, it might be appropriate.


The realities of earned media dictate that premature disclosure would  
not benefit the Corp or the Foundation. We want the media to write  
about a new Corp joining. If it has already been leaked, it is not  
"news" hence it is not covered to the same extent -- which dilutes the  
marketing value of an organization joining.

Let's take the hypothetical example of Facebook joining the OpenID  
Foundation. There would be great positive coverage of such an  
announcement -- but only if it was something that was not already known.

The board is charged with looking after the best interest of the  
Foundation and the community. The community elects board members that  
it thinks will best represent the community, and to make the right  
decisions about which discussions are in the best interest of the  
community to be temporarily behind closed doors.

-- Dick