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<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 3/11/2016 7:56 μμ, Gervase Markham
wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote
cite="mid:f87667ac-f796-fb03-0f6b-937df527f1bb@mozilla.org"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Hi Dimitris,
On 03/11/16 17:39, Dimitris Zacharopoulos via Public wrote:
</pre>
<blockquote type="cite">
<pre wrap="">If the guidelines allow for a number of options to perform a specific
task,
</pre>
</blockquote>
<pre wrap="">
Your thoughts are good ones, but unfortunately we've not got to the
stage where they are applicable :-(((
The stages we need are these, IMO:
* Agree what the ballot process is
* Run ballots 180-182 (2 months+)
* Receive Exclusion Notices for 182 (at least)
* Form a PAG
Once we have the PAG, we then have the discussion about what to do about
the fact that some of the methods are encumbered and some are not. At
that point, feel free to join the PAG and re-state your point :-)
Gerv
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Well, my question was not intended to interfere with the other
threads regarding the current ballots or the sequence of events that
have to take place. I was more curious if there is a clear
understanding among members whether or not the requirements MUST be
free of patents. So far, I didn't read something in the Bylaws or
the IPR policy that suggest that the CA/B Forum is required to
produce patent-free guidelines but, I am sure members more familiar
with legal language will correct me if I'm wrong :-) <br>
AFAIK only the actual documents are licensed under the Creative
Commons Attribution 4.0 International license.<br>
<br>
It would be interested to learn two things:<br>
<ol>
<li>whether it is dictated in the bylaws or the IPR policy that
the CA/B Forum must produce patent-free guidelines (otherwise it
is probably allowed to include some patented solutions, among
others with royalty-free license)<br>
</li>
<li>hear if members feel that all guidelines should cover methods
and practices that are patent-free or not.</li>
</ol>
<br>
Dimitris.<br>
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