Standards, open standards and Interoperability II 20-21 September 2005 Sophia Antipolis

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

2. 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

3. Analysis ofGSC 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

4. Analysis ofGSC 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

5. Analysis ofGSC 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

6. Analysis ofGSC 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…..

7. Analysis ofGSC 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

8. Analysis ofGSC 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

9. (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.