This charter is written in accordance with the W3C Patent Policy (PP).
The Widgets Access Requests Policy Patent Advisory Group is a Patent Advisory Group (PAG) as defined by the W3C Patent Policy (PP).
The mission of this Patent Advisory Group is to study issues and propose solutions related to two patent applications excluded by Apple, Inc., concerning the Widgets 1.0: Access Requests Policy First Public Working Draft.
This PAG is triggered by Section 7.1 (PAG Formation) of the Patent Policy, which states that a PAG is triggered in the event “a patent has been disclosed that may be essential, but is not available under W3C Royalty-Free licensing requirements”. On 13 November, US Published Patent Application No. 11/432,295 (20070101433) and US Published Patent Application 11/409,276 (20070101146) were disclosed by Apple Inc. Those declarations were renewed on 14 November using the application number, but reflecting the same patents. The PAG covers both declarations but deals with them as one as they cover the same patent applications. Apple Inc. has excluded all claims of both US Patent Applications.
The Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG has the scope to:
The Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG is not chartered to raise a formal opposition in the United States patent and trademark office against the patent applications but may recommend additional steps in its report.
The PAG ends with a PAG report to the W3C Director containing a recommendation. The recommendations have to be chosen among the options in section 7.5 of the Patent Policy:
The Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG is chartered through 28 February 2010. The PAG can be extended by the Director.
All communications of the Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG, the mailing list archives and the minutes of telephone conferences are W3C Member confidential.
This charter, the PAG report to the Director as well as an eventual document on prior art will be public. At regular intervals, the PAG should also provide status updates to the public.
In accordance with section 7.3 of the W3C Patent Policy, this PAG is composed of:
Advisory Committee Representatives of Members participating in the Web Applications Working Group must register for the PAG or will be put on the PAG by the Team. An Advisory Committee Representative who is unable to participate should designate an alternate. Each Advisory Committee Representative may also designate a second individual (usually legal counsel) to participate in the PAG.
Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG participation (attending meetings, following the mailing list) is expected to require half a day per week per participant.
The Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG conducts its discussion on a member readable mailing list, member-widgets-pag. The WARP PAG has also a public mailing-list to collect prior art and to communicate with the larger web community.
The Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG has a member accessible home page.
The Widgets Access Requests Policy PAG conducts its work through mailing-list discussions and teleconferences. The PAG can decide to have one face-to-face meeting.
Participation in teleconferences or face-to-face meetings is limited to the participants of the PAG as described by the Patent Policy. The chair may invite individuals to specific meeting at his discretion.
This PAG charter has been drafted according to the Procedures for Launching and Operating a Patent Advisory Group (PAG).