Regarding -outbound section 4.3:
IETF contributions often include components intended to be directly
processed by a computer. Examples of these include ABNF definitions,
XML Schemas, XML DTDs, XML RelaxNG definitions, tables of values,
MIBs, ASN.1, or classical programming code. These are included in
IETF contributions for clarity and precision in specification. It is
clearly beneficial, when such items are included in IETF
contributions, to permit the inclusion of such code components in
products which implement the contribution. It has been pointed out
that in several important contexts use of such code requires the
ability to modify the code. One common example of this is simply the
need to adapt code for use in specific contexts (languages,
compilers, tool systems, etc.) Such use frequently requires some
changes to the text of the code from the IETF contribution. Another
example is that code included in open source products is frequently
licensed to permit any and all of the code to be modified. Since we
want this code included in such products, it follows that we need to
permit such modification. While there has been discussion of
restricting the rights to make such modifications in some way, the
rough consensus of the IETF is that such restrictions are likely a
bad idea, and are certainly very complex to define.
As such, the rough consensus is that the IETF Trust is to grant
rights such that code components of IETF contributions can be
extracted, modified, and used by anyone in any way desired. To
enable the broadest possible extraction, modification and usage, the
IETF Trust should avoid adding software license obligations beyond
those already present in a contribution. The granted rights to
extract, modify and use code should allow creation of derived works
outside the IETF that may carry additional license obligations.
...
I believe the intention here is good, but it leaves the IETF Trust with
no guidelines on how to write the license declaration that is likely to
work well in practice with actual products. There are no reference to
what "open source" means in this context, and references to "free
software" is missing.
I believe it would be a complete failure if code-like portions of RFCs
cannot be included into open source and free software products such as
the Debian project.
To give the Trust something concrete to work with I propose to add the
following:
To make sure the granted rights are usable in practice, they need to
at least meet the requirements of the Open Source Definition [OSD],
the Free Software Definition [FSD], and the Debian Free Software
Guidelines [DFSG].
For those who fear that this will lead to complexity: releasing
something that is compatible with those requirements is simple. The
modified BSD license meets those requirements, as does a number of other
methods, including releasing the work into the public domain.
The references being:
[OSD] "The Open Source Definition",
http://opensource.org/docs/osd
[FSD] "The Free Software Definition",
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html
[DFSG] "The Debian Free Software Guidelines",
http://www.debian.org/social_contract#guidelines
Thanks,
Simon
Russ Housley <housley@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes:
> During the Wednesday Plenary at IETF 71, I gave the IETF community a
> "heads up" on two documents from the IPR WG that were nearing IETF
> Last Call. Both of the documents have now reached IETF Last
> call. The Last Call announcements are attached. Please review and comment.
>
> Russ
>
> == == == == == == == == == ==
>
> To: IETF-Announce <ietf-announce@xxxxxxxx>
> From: The IESG <iesg-secretary@xxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Last Call: draft-ietf-ipr-outbound-rights (Advice to the
> Trustees of the IETF Trust on Rights to be Granted in IETF
> Documents) to Informational RFC
> Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:15:56 -0700 (PDT)
> Cc: ipr-wg@xxxxxxxx
>
> The IESG has received a request from the Intellectual Property Rights WG
> (ipr) to consider the following document:
>
> - 'Advice to the Trustees of the IETF Trust on Rights to be Granted in
> IETF Documents '
> <draft-ietf-ipr-outbound-rights-06.txt> as an Informational RFC
>
> The IESG plans to make a decision in the next few weeks, and solicits
> final comments on this action. Please send substantive comments to the
> ietf@xxxxxxxx mailing lists by 2008-04-02. Exceptionally,
> comments may be sent to iesg@xxxxxxxx instead. In either case, please
> retain the beginning of the Subject line to allow automated sorting.
>
> The file can be obtained via
> http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ipr-outbound-rights-06.txt
>
> This document is closely related to draft-ietf-ipr-3978-incoming.
> The two documents should be considered as a set. IETF Last Call for
> draft-ietf-ipr-3978-incoming will begin as soon as the next update is
> posted.
>
> IESG discussion can be tracked via
> https://datatracker.ietf.org/public/pidtracker.cgi?command=view_id&dTag=14518&rfc_flag=0
>
> == == == == == == == == == ==
>
> To: IETF-Announce <ietf-announce@xxxxxxxx>
> From: The IESG <iesg-secretary@xxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Last Call: draft-ietf-ipr-3978-incoming (Rights Contributors
> provide to the IETF Trust) to BCP
> Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:19:57 -0700 (PDT)
> Cc: ipr-wg@xxxxxxxx
>
> The IESG has received a request from the Intellectual Property Rights WG
> (ipr) to consider the following document:
>
> - 'Rights Contributors provide to the IETF Trust '
> <draft-ietf-ipr-3978-incoming-08.txt> as a BCP
>
> The IESG plans to make a decision in the next few weeks, and solicits
> final comments on this action. Please send substantive comments to the
> ietf@xxxxxxxx mailing lists by 2008-04-07. Exceptionally,
> comments may be sent to iesg@xxxxxxxx instead. In either case, please
> retain the beginning of the Subject line to allow automated sorting.
>
> The file can be obtained via
> http://www.ietf.org/internet-drafts/draft-ietf-ipr-3978-incoming-08.txt
>
> This document is closely related to draft-ietf-ipr-outbound-rights,
> which is already in Last Call. The two documents should be considered
> as a set.
>
> IESG discussion can be tracked via
> https://datatracker.ietf.org/public/pidtracker.cgi?command=view_id&dTag=15855&rfc_flag=0
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