Track 2: Open standards Break-out session Room = Amphi IRIS Standards, open standards and Interoperability II 20-21 September 2005 Sophia Antipolis Track 2: Open standards Break-out session Room = Amphi IRIS Moderator: Jean Pierre Henninot Support: Yves Chauvel & Gavin Craik

Overview 18 attendees. Inputs or reference documents: Summary of the exchanges on the discussion forum. report from ICTSB focus group, CompTIA white paper, EICTA paper, IDABC EIF document. Working process in the group broad exchange of views as a starting step followed by a synthesis, and aiming at a conclusion Subjects discussed: Purpose of the definition No academic or dictionary definition foreseen Preference for a minimum set of characteristics GSC resolution is acceptable as a basis for the work of Track 2

Analysis of GSC Resolution GSC 10/04, Extract of “Recognizing” “Standards should: Facilitate interoperability Support fair trade and competition Increase user, consumer and government confidence Stimulate innovation” Track 2 comment: as the scope is specified to be the ICT field, this objectives are supported

Analysis of GSC Resolution GSC 10/04, “ The 10th GSC meeting……. resolves that the PSOs define an open standard to include the following fundamental elements: Developed and/or approved and maintained by a collaborative consensus-based process …….” Track 2 comments consensus based process does not exclude voting when necessary

Analysis of GSC Resolution GSC 10/04, “The 10th GSC meeting……. resolves that the PSOs define an open standard to include the following fundamental elements: …... Such process is transparent …….” Track 2 comments: perhaps too concise? But acceptable if it implies that this process is documented and published

Analysis of GSC Resolution GSC 10/04, “The 10th GSC meeting……. resolves that the PSOs define an open standard to include the following fundamental elements: …….. Materially affected and interested parties are not excluded from such process ……..” Track 2 comments: after a discussion on potential change to a positive wording, the text appears as pretty good…..

Analysis of GSC Resolution GSC 10/04, “The 10th GSC meeting……. resolves that the PSOs define an open standard to include the following fundamental elements: …….. Subject to RAND/FRAND IPR policies which do not mandate but may permit at the option of the IPR holder licensing essential IPR without compensation …….” Track 2 comment: no comment, but observation that this is covering the royalty-free case

Analysis of GSC Resolution GSC 10/04, “The 10th GSC meeting……. resolves that the PSOs define an open standard to include the following fundamental elements: …….. Published and made available to the general public under reasonable terms (including for reasonable fee or for no fee) ………” Track2 comments no significant comment

(Proposed) Conclusion The GSC way of addressing the issue of « open standards » is acceptable The break out session can be considered as a «test », considering the various discussions on the interpretation of this text It should be recommended that every organisation adopts this text having in mind that: it is valid in the ICT scope it gives a characterisation of «open standards » through a minimum set of characteristics in a given context, actors can precise their practical application The comments should be published in the minutes or report of this second SOS-interop Workshop.