A Proposal Identity Commons 3.0 V

Background The first Identity Commons (IC 1.0) was founded in 2003 by Owen Davis and Andrew Nelson In 2006 it underwent an evolutionary transformation into the present organization (IC 2.0) by adopting a flexible Working Group format (“IETF for identity”) It operates today as a loose affiliation of over a dozen Working Groups with almost no funding; it is best known as the home of IIW (Internet Identity Workshop) and OSIS (Open Source Identity System) interoperability events This is a proposal for a second evolutionary transformation into IC 3.0

Motivations Efficiency/better application of funds Increase the overall funding for User-Centric Identity(UCI) initiatives Decrease operational overhead in the overall community by providing additional services at the core Simplify funding for sponsors Encourage cross-protocol, cross-org development Harmonize work on discovery, UX, active clients, RP libraries, attribute schemas, privacy policies, trust frameworks (TFs) Develop shared infrastructure services One listing services for all TFs One interop test suite and testing infrastructure Coherent, solution-oriented marketing for entire UCI space

Structure and Governance IC Working Group (WG) Any IC group that does not take its own legal form Membership rules set by IC charter Funding (if any) comes through IC IC OrgAny IC group that takes its own legal form Membership rules set by Org’s own Bylaws Funding comes through IC and/or other sources IC StewardsThe governing council for IC Composed of one rep from each WG & Org IC SponsorsAny company, government, or other funder that wishes to support IC activities with funding

Stewards Sponsors Working Groups Orgs Directed Funding Representatives IC Core Services (shared across all WGs and Orgs) General Funding

Funding Sponsors contribute a minimum % to the IC Core Proposal is 20% Pays for commons services shared across all WGs and Orgs All other funding is Sponsor-directed May be contributed directly to specific WGs or Orgs Or may be contributed to the IC Core for disbursement by the Steward’s Council Or any combination of the above In all cases, Sponsors can write a single check to IC Checks can be directed to cover multiple years

IC Common Services Collaboration tools (website, wikis, mailing lists) Infrastructure services (interop test suites, listing services) Marketing/PR/Outreach Conferences/events Accounting Legal Administration

International Scope and Outreach IC 3.0 is intended to be fully international in scope One option is reincorporation (or second incorporation) in Geneva IC 2.0 would have been incorporated in Geneva if the funds were available Correct any impediments to participation by governments

IPR Standardized across all Identity Commons WGs and Orgs Includes all IPR options currently in use Adds Open Web Foundation Agreement (signed IPR) New options may be proposed as needed IPR options managed by IC Legal Includes any necessary operational procedures, e.g., mailing-list opt-in, Contribution Agreements, etc. IPR option selected by each WG/Org is published on its charter page

Transition - Legal Current IC Stewards would adopt new Bylaws Current IC Working Groups would continue Charters may need slight revision per updated Bylaws Existing Orgs would opt-in to participate May or may not execute IC Participation Agreement May or may not require modifications to their own Bylaws and Membership Agreements Sponsors opt-in to provide funding May or may not require a simple Sponsor Agreement

Transition - Organizational Provides flexible, agile structure for innovation and work Structure and governance are not “one size fits all” Supports transition and evolution of WGs and IC Orgs as needed or not WGs and Orgs may or may not have their own EDs (full or part time) Core includes support for more accounting and international legal issues, yet most activities remain outside the core