[cabfpub] For informal review: Updated Code of Conduct Ballot

Fri May 5 00:03:30 UTC 2017

Hello all,

Here’s an updated draft of the Code of Conduct, in response to the most recent round of comments.

The definitions of the words used in the Code of Conduct are going to vary depending on the situation.  We will all have to use common sense and our best professional judgement to interpret the terms and comply with them.  It would not be possible to come up with comprehensive definitions of, for example, “demeaning” or “inappropriate” that would cover every possible scenario.

Also, there’s no point in having a Code of Conduct if there aren’t consequences of violating it.  However, the Code is flexible enough so that the number and severity of violations can be taken into consideration when determining what consequences would be appropriate, if any.  For example, different consequences would be in order if someone makes daily death threats to someone on the public mailing list, than if someone accidentally calls someone a 

With that said, please see changes below, highlighted in red.  Also, some of the paragraphs have been reordered so they’re in a more logical order.     

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DRAFT BALLOT
===================

Ballot ###

Purpose of Ballot:  To add a Code of Conduct to the CAB Forum Bylaws.

The following motion has been proposed by [name] of [company] and endorsed by [name] of [company] and [name] of [company].

—MOTION BEGINS—

1.  A new Section 6.4 will be added to the Bylaws of the CAB Forum, and will read in its entirety as follows:

“Section 6.4

All Members shall abide by the CAB Forum Code of Conduct, which is attached to these Bylaws as Exhibit C.”

2.  A new Exhibit C will be added to the Bylaws, and will read in its entirety as follows:

“Exhibit C

CAB Forum Code of Conduct (the “Code")

The CAB Forum (the “Forum") is comprised of a global group of professionals with differences in language, skills, expertise, experience, and backgrounds.  To maintain a professional and productive environment, it is necessary for Members of the Forum to follow the letter and spirit of this Code.  This Code applies to all official Forum activities, such as meetings, teleconferences, mailing lists, conferences, and other Forum functions.  The Forum is committed to maintaining a professional and respectful environment.

All Member representatives are expected to behave in a collegial and professional manner in accordance with this Code.  Members will familiarize their representatives with this Code and require them to comply with the letter and spirit of this Code.

I.  Conduct.  The Forum is committed to providing a friendly, safe, and welcoming environment for all, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, personal appearance, body size, race, ethnicity, age, religion, nationality, or other similar characteristic.  The Forum recognizes and appreciates that its participants have diverse languages, backgrounds, experience, and expertise, and expects that all participants will be treated with respect by all other participants.

(a)  In connection with official Forum activities, all Forum participants shall:
Be polite, kind, and courteous to other participants, refraining from insulting remarks on the perceived intelligence or ability of others.
Treat fellow Forum participants with respect, professionalism, courtesy, and reasonableness.  
Respect that people have differences of opinion, and that there is seldom unanimous agreement on a single “correct" answer.  Be willing to compromise and agree to disagree.  

(b)  Refrain from conduct such as:  
Threatening violence towards any person.  
Discriminating against anyone on the basis of personal characteristics or group membership.
Harassing or bullying anyone verbally, physically, or sexually.
Directly insulting or demeaning another person.  For purposes of this Code, “demeaning" means acting in a way that reduces another person's dignity, sense of self-worth or respect within the Forum. [Note: this definition is from the W3C Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct]
Touching another person in a physically inappropriate way. 
Deliberately intimidating or stalking another person (in-person, online, or by other means).
Inappropriately disrupting or impeding official Forum events, including meetings, talks, and presentations.  For purposes of this Code, "inappropriate disruption" would include aggressive, violent, and abusive conduct that prevents an official Forum event from proceeding.
Spamming, trolling, flaming, baiting, and other similar behavior inappropriately directed towards an individual.
Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.

(c)  All Forum participants should promote the rules of this Code and take action to bring discussions back into compliance with the Code whenever violations are observed.

(d)  Forum participants should stick to ideological, conceptual discussions and avoid engaging in offensive or sensitive personal discussions, particularly if they're off-topic; such personal discussions can lead to unnecessary arguments, hurt feelings, and damaged trust. 

II.  Moderation.  These are the policies for upholding the Code.

(a) Resist the urge to be defensive.  Remember that it's your responsibility to clearly communicate your message to your fellow participants. Everyone wants to get along and we are all in the Forum first and foremost because we want to talk about standards and everything that involves. Other participants will be eager to assume good intent and forgive as long as you have earned their trust.

(b)  Participants should inform the Chair, Vice Chair, and/or a Working Group Chair immediately if they feel they have been, or are being, harassed or made uncomfortable by a Forum member. Intimidation, personal attacks, and retaliation of any kind will not be tolerated. 

(c)  Any Forum participant may report, in good faith, a perceived violation of the Code to the Forum Chair or Vice Chair, or to a Working Group Chair (each, a “Code Liaison”).  One or more Code Liaison(s) will work with the reported Forum participant to determine whether a violation of the Code has occurred and, if so, how to resolve it.  Resolution may also include appropriate executives from the Forum participant’s Member company, as appropriate.  If the reported Forum participant, Member executives, and the Code Liaison(s) are unable to resolve the issue, any of the foregoing may request the assistance of a reasonably acceptable independent third party (such as an Interested Party or WebTrust) to assist with the resolution. 

(d)  Members agree to suspend, remove or replace any of their Member representative(s) who violate the Code, as appropriate. Depending on the number and severity of violations, the Forum may impose consequences that may include excluding a Member representative from certain meetings, removing a Member representative from a mailing list, and suspending a Member representative from certain Forum activities.  

Adapted from the WHATWG Code of Conduct [link], the W3C Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct [link], and the Citizen Code of Conduct [link].”

—END OF MOTION— 

The procedure for approval of this ballot is as follows (exact start and end times may be adjusted to comply with applicable sections of the Bylaws and IPR Agreement):

BALLOT ###

Status: Amendment to Bylaws

Start time (22:00 UTC)

End time (22:00 UTC)

Discussion (7 days)

Starts:  May __, 2017

Ends:  May __, 2017

Vote for approval (7 days)

Starts:  May __, 2017

Starts:  May__, 2017

No Review Period is required.

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/ <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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END OF DRAFT BALLOT
===================

Best regards,

Virginia Fournier
Senior Standards Counsel
 Apple Inc.
☏ 669-227-9595
✉︎ vmf at apple.com <mailto:vmf at apple.com>

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