[cabfpub] Ballot 205: Membership-Related Clarifications

[Gervase Markham]

*Ballot 205: Membership-Related Clarifications
*

*Purpose of Ballot: *The CAB Forum Bylaws define membership criteria,
but don't say what should happen when an existing member ceases to meet
those criteria. This ballot is intended to fix this, for the avoidance
of doubt and uncertainty. It also makes it clearer that proper
recognition of currently-issued certificates by at least one browser
member is a membership requirement, and adds the definition of
"Affiliate" from the IPR policy.

The following motion has been proposed by Gervase Markham of Mozilla and
endorsed by Kirk Hall of Entrust Datacard and Curt Spann of Apple:

-- MOTION BEGINS --

This motion changes the CAB Forum Bylaws.

___*Section 1*__*
*_
Add a new section between 2.1 ("Qualifying for Forum Membership") and
the following section, numbering the new section 2.2, and renumbering
following sections appropriately. The new section shall read:

*2.2 Ending Forum Membership*

Forum Members may resign from the Forum at any time. Resignation does
not prevent a member potentially having continuing obligations, under
the Forum's IPR Policy or any other document.

(a) _Browser_: A Browser member's membership will automatically cease if
any of the following become true:

 1. it stops providing updates for its membership-qualifying software
    product; or
 2. six months have elapsed since the last such published update.

(b) _Issuing CA_ or _Root CA_: An CA member's membership may be
suspended if any of the following become true:

 1. it fails to pass its membership-qualifying audit;
 2. its membership-qualifying audit is revoked, rescinded or withdrawn;
 3. fifteen months have elapsed since the end of the Audit Period of its
    last successful membership-qualifying audit;
 4. it stops issuing certificates to Web servers that are openly
    accessible from the Internet; or
 5. it is no longer the case that its currently-issued certificates are
    treated as valid by at least one Browser member.

Any Forum Member who believes one of the above circumstances is true of
a CA Forum Member may report it on the Public Mail List. The Chair will
then investigate, including asking the CA for an explanation or
appropriate documentation. If evidence of continued qualification for
membership is not forthcoming within five working days, the Chair will
announce that the member is suspended, such announcement to include the
clause(s) from the above list under which the suspension has been made.

A suspended CA Forum Member who believes it has now re-met the
membership criteria under the relevant clauses shall post evidence to
the Public Mail List. The Chair will examine the evidence and unsuspend
the member, or not, by public announcement. A CA Forum Member's
membership will automatically cease six months after it becomes
suspended if it has not re-met the membership criteria by that time.

While suspended, CAs may participate in meetings and on the Forum's
discussion lists, but not propose or second ballots or take part in any
form of voting. Votes cast before a member's suspension is announced
will stand.

_*Section 2*__*
*_
Update both sections 2.1 (a) and (b) to insert words as follows:

"actively issues certificates to Web servers that are openly accessible
from the Internet_, __such certificates being treated as valid when_
using a browser created by a Browser member."

_*Section 3*__*

*_Update section 2.2 b) as follows:

Only one vote per Member company shall be accepted; representatives of
corporate affiliates_Affiliates_ shall not vote. 

Add to the Definitions section:

*Affiliate:* an entity that directly or indirectly controls, is
controlled by or is under common control with, a Member. Control for the
purposes of this Agreement shall mean direct or indirect beneficial
ownership of more than fifty percent of the voting stock, or
decision-making authority in the event that there is no voting stock, in
an entity.

-- MOTION ENDS --

 

The procedure for approval of this ballot is as follows:

 

BALLOT 205

Status: Bylaws Change

	

Start time (23:00 UTC)

	

End time (23:00 UTC)

Discussion (7 to 14 days)

	

22 June

	

29 June

Vote for approval (7 days)

	

29 June

	

6 July


	
	


Votes must be cast by posting an on-list reply to this thread on the
Public list.  A vote in favor of the motion must indicate a clear 'yes'
in the response. A vote against must indicate a clear 'no' in the
response. A vote to abstain must indicate a clear 'abstain' in the
response. Unclear responses will not be counted. The latest vote
received from any representative of a voting member before the close of
the voting period will be counted. Voting members are listed here:
https://cabforum.org/members/In order for the motion to be adopted, two
thirds or more of the votes cast by members in the CA category and
greater than 50% of the votes cast by members in the browser category
must be in favor.  Quorum is shown on CA/Browser Forum wiki.  Under
Bylaw 2.2(g), at least the required quorum number must participate in
the ballot for the ballot to be valid, either by voting in favor, voting
against, or abstaining.

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