[cabfpub] Observers

[Jeremy Rowley]

Hi everyone, 

 

As mentioned on yesterday's call, I think the Forum should grant an
exemption to the IPR for invited observers.  Primarily, I'd like Entrust to
have an effective way to participate in the IPR working group and re-include
both WebTrust and ETSI in the telephone and face-to-face discussions.  Input
from the auditors is essential in creating requirements that apply to all
CAs. Similarly, the revocation working group has received significant
contributions from academia representatives.  We'd like to continue
receiving their insight.

 

Below is a proposed set of observer rules that permit an exemption to the
IPR for limited participants.  These rules and the observer role are
temporary and are only intended to stay in effect until the Forum has
finished its governance reform.  At that point, the adopted governance
proposal's rules on observers will take effect.

 

I'm looking for additional input on the proposal and a second endorser. 

 

Thanks,

Jeremy

 

OBSERVER STATUS

1.    Observer Qualifications for Participation  

b.    Observer status is provided on a discretionary basis to entities that
the voting members believe have either an expertise relevant to the industry
or a material interest in the work product of the CA/Browser Forum (e.g., an
organization that is highly impacted by the use of digital certificates).  

c.    Observers are exempt from the Forum's Intellectual Property Rights
(IPR) requirements.

2.    Approval of Observer Status 

a.    Observer status is approved using an operational ballot that occurs
only after the CA/Browser Forum has received and evaluated an application
for participation.  The CA/Browser Forum may refuse to grant Observer Status
for any legitimate reason. 

b.    The CAB Forum will revoke Observer status if the CA/Browser Forum,
through an operational ballot, determines that an organization no longer
qualifies for Observer status.

3.    Observer Participation

a.    Observers may not make, endorse, or vote on ballots, and their
participation does not count towards quorum.

b.    Observers may attend teleconferences and face-to-face meetings,
receive emails from the Forum, contribute to discussions with relevant
factual information, and comment on CA/Browser Forum proposals prior to
final balloting.  Observers may also access, but may not edit or modify,
CA/Browser Forum documentation and wiki pages. 

c.    An Observer may not post comments that are in opposition or support of
a ballot after the ballot's voting period begins.  However, Observers may
continue to comment on typographical, grammar, syntax, spelling, technical
errors, and inaccuracies. 

d.    An Observer shall protect communication from and documents provided by
the CA/Browser Forum as confidential information.

e.    The CA/Browser Forum may set additional limitations on an Observer's
ability to participate in the Forum, including limiting an Observer's
participation to specific working groups and establishing a set date for
when the Observer's participation ends.

4.    Revocation of Observer Status.  The CA/Browser Forum may revoke,
suspend, un-suspend, or reinstate an organization's Observer status for any
legitimate reason using an operational ballot.

 

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