Probably nothing can be perfect when defining "affiliation", but I think some definition can help reducing hidden conflict of interests. Here is an example in other standards body: http://standards.ieee.org/faqs/affiliation.html Yoshihiro Ohba (2012/08/02 14:37), Samuel Weiler wrote: > On Thu, 2 Aug 2012, Yoshihiro Ohba wrote: > >> What is the exact definition of "affiliation" in IETF? > > Quoting from RFC3777: > > "Rather than defining precise rules for how to define "affiliation", > the IETF community depends on the honor and integrity of the > participants to make the process work." > > As a community, we recognize that this could easily be gamed, and we > expect each other to behave reasonably. > >> If a consultant who runs his/her own consulting company X is paid by >> his/her customer company Y for his/her IETF activities including >> NOMCOM activity, then what is his/her affiliation? > > As a first pass answer, it's whatever the consultant would normally > show on a meeting registration badge. Typically, I'd expect X. But > the degree of funding is as extreme as you describe, it might still be > appropriate to step aside if two persons from Y are also chosen (or > ask one of them to step aside). > > -- Sam >