Web Components Patent Advisory Group Charter

Goals

The Web Components 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 the Web Platform Working Group's Web Components specifications Shadow DOM, Custom Elements, and HTML Imports Working Drafts. An outside party (who is contributing postings to the Working Group's primary mailing list) has been alerting participants in the Working Group about his asserted French Patent Nr. 2,962,237.

This PAG is started in accordance to Section 7.1 (PAG Formation) of the Patent Policy and in accordance with the Procedures for Launching and Operating a Patent Advisory Group.

Scope

The Web Components PAG has the scope to:

• explore ways to obtain an RF licensing commitment from the current owner of French Patent 2,962,237 so that the W3C RF Patent Policy Requirements are met;
• seek prior art that may apply to the notion of HTML widgets, i.e., incorporating parts of a source document given a set of parameters into a target document;
• discuss ways to design around patent French 2,962,237;
• create a PAG report with recommendations for the W3C Director;
• if necessary, request an analysis of the claim by a W3C patent counsel. This analysis will be made only if sufficient funds for that purpose are made available via the Web Legal Support Fund.

Deliverable

The PAG ends with a PAG report to the W3C Director containing a recommendation. The recommendations must be chosen from among the options in section section 7.5.1 of the Patent Policy:

1. The initial concern has been resolved, enabling the Working Group to continue.
2. The Working Group should be instructed to consider designing around the identified claims.
3. The Team should seek further information and evaluation, including and not limited to evaluation of the patents in question or the terms under which W3C RF licensing requirements may be met.
4. The Working Group should abandon the work.
5. Alternative licensing terms should be considered. The procedure in section 7.5.3 must be followed.

Duration

The Web Components Patent Advisory Group is chartered through 30 September 2016. The PAG can be extended by the Director.

Confidentiality

All communications of the Web Components PAG, the mailing list archives and the minutes of telephone conferences are member-only.

This charter, the PAG report to the Director, as well as any eventual document on prior art will be public. At regular intervals, the PAG should also provide status updates to the public.

Participation

In accordance with section 7.3 of the W3C Patent Policy, this PAG is composed of:

Advisory Committee Representatives of each Member participating in the Web Platform WG

A full list of Members participating in the Web Platform Working Group is available.

W3C Team contacts for the Web Platform Working Group

Yves Lafon, Xiaoqian Wu

W3C Interaction Domain Leader

Philippe Le Hegaret

W3C counsel and PAG Chair

Wendy Seltzer

Chairs of the Web Platform Working Group

Art Barstow, Charles McCathieNevile, Adrian Bateman, Léonie Watson

Others

As suggested by the Working Group Chairs and/or the Team with the approval of the Director

Advisory Committee Representatives of Members participating in the Web Platform 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.

Web Components PAG participation (attending meetings, following the mailing list) is expected to require half a day per week per participant.

Communications

All communications of the Web Components PAG, the mailing list archive, and the minutes of telephone conferences are Public.

Group home page

The Web Components PAG has a public home page and a member-accessible home page.

Meetings

The Web Components 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.

About this charter

This PAG charter has been drafted according to the Procedures for Launching and Operating a Patent Advisory Group (PAG).

Changes

On 10 February, 2016, this charter was updated to re-charter in Member-only mode by consensus of the PAG.