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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>There is now a proposal for an IPR policy and a (lightweight)
supporting process for OpenID spec development posted at <a
href="http://openid.net/wiki/index.php/Formal_IPR_Policy">http://openid.net/wiki/index.php/Formal_IPR_Policy</a>
and <a href="http://openid.net/wiki/index.php/Formal_Process">http://openid.net/wiki/index.php/Formal_Process</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We’ve also set up a <a href="mailto:legal@openid.net">legal@openid.net</a>
email list to discuss these items (<a
href="http://openid.net/mailman/listinfo/legal">http://openid.net/mailman/listinfo/legal</a>
to subscribe). <b><span style='font-weight:bold'>We need to point out that
subscription to the legal list by any organization, person, etc does not imply
endorsement, participation, or any form of licensing with regards to OpenID. This
is a zero-commitment list where we can discuss how IPR-related roadblocks to
participation by other parties can be addressed. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We have a goal of having this proposal reviewed by this
community and other (qualified) interested parties within the next few weeks so
that we can announce something by IIW on May 14. That may be wildly optimistic,
but let’s try. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We’ve been motivated to set up a more formal IPR
policy to allow parties like Microsoft and other organizations to contribute
and engage the community while preserving the OpenID development culture and its
values around IPR. It’s not a perfect proposal, nor is it complete. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The goals of the IPR policy and supporting process are
proposed as:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<ol start=1 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Produce specifications which are free from patent
and copyright encumbrances. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Minimize process imposed on participants, i.e.,
keep as “lightweight” as possible, especially in terms of
executing licenses <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Facilitate free-wheeling, open-ended discussion
in the current modes (a small handful of email lists consisting primarily
of individuals who detest process and who have no IPR to protect). <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Maximize participation from IPR holders who would
like to contribute IPR. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
<ol start=1 type=1>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:
auto;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Make contribution "safe" in terms of
being well-scoped and well-defined. <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ol>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1'><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt'>Maximize clarity on the IPR encumbrances around
specs produced by the community for the purposes of 3rd parties who may
want to adopt the specifications <o:p></o:p></span></font></li>
</ol>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>The process I’ve proposed consists of a two new
mechanisms: blanket/specific licensing participation modes, and “on the
table” documents. The basic idea is that participants either blanket
license (those who probably don’t care about protecting their IPR with
respect to OpenID – the majority of today’s participants, I
believe) and specific licensing (those who need to limit their commitments for
licensing to a specific list of well-defined documents). Blanket licensers need
not do anything other than what they are doing today (subscribe to the list and
participate!). Specific licensers have more to do to state that they are committing
to licensing for only specific “on the table” documents. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>At any given time, there is a list of “on the table”
documents to which specific-licensing participants are expected to commit to
licensing. Documents become “on the table” through a vote of the
community. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>There are no disclosure requirements, and anybody can
withdraw licenses up and until adoption. There is no “membership”
of an organization except email list subscription. There must be a vote to put
a spec “on the table” and there must be a final adoption vote. There
also has to be a freeze period where specific licensing companies can make a
final evaluation about their licensing commitments. That’s pretty much
it. We can discuss in more detail on the legal list, (<a
href="http://openid.net/mailman/listinfo/legal">http://openid.net/mailman/listinfo/legal</a>
to subscribe).<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'>We’re trying to do this quickly – I doubt there
will be a lack of opinions on this. It’s very easy to be critical, and 10x
harder to be constructive. I just ask that if you have an issue with the
proposal that you propose an alternative that meets the needs of the parties to
whom it will apply. That being said, nothing is strictly off the table at this
point.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> -Gabe<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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