[Foundation] statement from the Board

[Jason Frankel]

Nice work! 
I fully support the proposed framework.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Peter Saint-Andre" <stpeter at jabber.org>
To: <members at jabber.org>
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 10:55 AM
Subject: [Foundation] statement from the Board


> The Board of Directors of the Jabber Software Foundation has agreed 
> on the following statement:
> 
> ******
> 
> August 1, 2003
> 
> The JSF Board of Directors recognizes the concerns among some members of
> the Jabber community that led to the recent proposal to remove the word
> "Jabber" from the name of the organization. These include:
> 
>    1. The desire to have an IM protocol, logos, compliance testing
>    suites and marks, etc. that are not "encumbered" by the JABBER name,
>    since that name is also used in the company name of Jabber, Inc.
>    2. The desire to capitalize on standardization of the IM protocol
>    developed by the Jabber community within the IETF's Applications
>    Area under the name of XMPP.
>    3. The need for clearer communication of the fact that the JSF
>    is fully distinct from Jabber Inc.
>    4. The need to complete the transfer of the JABBER trademark
>    to the JSF.
> 
> These concerns are legitimate. Indeed, even some members of the Board
> voted for the name change. However, the fact that the name change
> proposal was rejected does not mean that these concerns should not be
> addressed. Addressing them is not only the right thing to do, but we
> believe it will also help to lessen some of the existing tensions within
> the community and create a structure in which everyone can contribute
> and work together in building the protocol as well as associated
> technologies, networks, and the community itself.
> 
> Obviously much could be done to address these concerns: acceleration of
> the trademark transfer work accomplished by the Board over the last 12
> months, renaming of JEP-0073, improved wording on the JSF website, and
> perhaps a different JSF logo. Those efforts are all valuable and should
> be pursued. Above and beyond those efforts, the Board has concluded that
> we need a framework for harnessing the contributions and energies of
> those who for whatever reason are not comfortable with the Jabber
> branding of the JSF. Ideally, such a framework should help to address
> the core concerns of some community members, as well as capitalize on
> the community's standardization efforts within the IETF.
> 
> The proposed framework is as follows:
> 
>    1. Inaugurate a website at xmpp.org devoted exclusively to
>    documentation of XMPP-based protocols for instant messaging and
>    presence.
>    2. These protocols would include both relevant output from the
>    IETF's XMPP WG and IM protocols developed through the JSF's
>    normal standards process (e.g., multi-user chat and file
>    transfer).
>    3. Define a compliance testing program and certification
>    mark for the XMPP protocols.
>    4. Provide a directory of XMPP applications, software
>    companies, and service providers.
>    5. Enable sponsors to support only the JSF's xmpp.org
>    activities if desired.
> 
> The task of working out the details of such a framework will be pursued
> by a dedicated working group within the JSF that will be led by a member
> of the Board of Directors. Those details might include issues such as
> organizational structure, protocol naming, branding for XMPP vs. Jabber,
> and standards processes. The Board will resolve to create such a working
> group if consensus can be reached on the proposed framework.
> 
> Thank you.
> 
> The Jabber Software Foundation Board of Directors:
> 
> Michael Bauer (Chair)
> Tony Bamonti
> Ryan Eatmon
> Jeremie Miller
> Marco Palombi 
> 
> ******
> 
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