W3C Technology and Society Domain

Patents and Standards Interest Group Charter

THIS CHARTER HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED. Please see the Patent and Standards Interest Group home page for the latest charter information.

Per section 6 Working Groups, Interest Groups, and Coordination Groups of the W3C Process, this charter, and any changes to it, take effect by way of an announcement to the W3C Membership via w3c-ac-members.

About

The Patent and Standards Interest Group (PSIG) is designed as a forum for W3C Members to discuss matters regarding the W3C Patent Policy in particular and larger issues regarding patents and Web standards.

Effective date: 17 December 2004
Expiratation date: 1 December 2007

Table of Contents

  1. Overview and Background
  2. Mission Statement
  3. Scope of the Work
  4. Deliverables
  5. Coordination With Other Activities and Groups
  6. Meetings and Discussion Forums
  7. Participation
  8. Communication and Confidentiality
  9. Duration
  10. Patent Policy
  11. Contact

1. Overview and Background

In May 2003, the W3C Director, on the advice of the W3C Membership, approved the W3C Patent Policy as the governing document for patent matters in W3C Recommendations. The policy affirms and strengthens the basic business model that has driven innovation on the Web from its inception. The availability of an interoperable, unencumbered Web infrastructure provides an expanding foundation for innovative applications, profitable commerce, and the free flow of information and ideas, on a commercial and non-commercial basis. Beyond establishing a commitment to royalty-free (RF) standards, the policy provides W3C with:

The Patent Policy Working Group, which developed the policy over a more than three year period, completed its work by assisting the Team with the implementation of the policy. This Patents and Standards Interest Group is formed in order to provide an ongoing forum for discussion of general issues regarding implementation of the policy and to exchange views of other related matters of importance.

2. Mission Statement

The Patent and Standards Interest Group (PSIG) is a forum for W3C Members and Invited Experts to discuss policy issues regarding the implementation of the W3C Patent Policy as well as new Patent-related questions that arise which require action or attention from the W3C Membership. The PSIG has no authority to create new policy or issue binding interpretations of the existing Patent Policy. However, input from the PSIG on the operation of the policy and areas that might require further policy development by a W3C Working Group is welcome.

The Patent and Standards Interest Group is a forum open to those responsible for patent policy matters in W3C Member organizations as well as a limited number of Invited Experts.

3. Scope of the Work

The primary purpose of the Patent and Standards Interest Group is to exchange views and flag issues regarding the W3C Patent Policy. The PSIG will not issue new policies but may recommend to the W3C Team and Advisory Committee any actions that it feels are worthy of consideration.

The PSIG may not issue any opinions regarding the application of specific patents to W3C specifications, nor may it offer legal advice to any other W3C body.

4. Deliverables

As an Interest Group, the PSIG issues neither Recommendations nor other binding policy documents. The PSIG may be called upon to offer advice on patent policy matters, but not on issues related to specific W3C Recommendations or individual Working Groups.

5. Coordination With Other Activities and Groups

Informal coordination is done via the Interest Group's mailing lists. The PSIG may coordinate with the W3C Advisory Board as needed, as well as relevant institutions in the standards and public policy communities around the world.

6. Meetings and Discussion Forums

The Interest Group functions primarily through an email distribution list hosted by W3C. The main IG list is <member-psig@w3.org> which has a Member accessible archive.

The PSIG exists primarily as an online forum; it does not typically conduct weekly phone conferences. The Interest Group may also conduct virtual meetings using email, IRC, wiki and teleconference facilities. The Interest Group may on occasion meet or sponsor "Birds-Of-a-Feather" sessions at conferences, W3C Advisory Committee Meetings or Technical Plenaries or alongside other W3C meetings, at the discretion of the Co-Chairs.

The Interest Group communicates in English.

7. Participation

Any W3C Member may nominate up to 3 participants to the PSIG. The Co-Chairs my invite qualified Invited Experts to participate in the PSIG in accordance with the Invited Expert provisions in the Process Document.

8. Communications and Confidentiality

The Patents and Standards Interest Group is a Member-only forum. PSIG mailing lists and their archives are Member-accessible. The PSIG will produce a public summary of its activities on at least a quarterly basis.

9. Duration

The Patent and Standards Interest Group is part of the W3C Patent Policy Activity and is chartered until the end of the Activity, 1 December 2006.

10. Patent Policy

The Patent and Standards Interest Group produces no technical standards or guidelines. Hence, the W3C Patent Policy does not apply to this Interest Group.

11. Contact

Don Deutsch (Oracle), co-Chair
Daniel Weitzner (W3C) co-Chair
Rigo Wenning (W3C). Team Contact


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