[802SEC] UL and 802 policy about restriction notices in e-mails.

[Geoff Thompson <gthompso@nortelnetworks.com>]

Folks-

I just got off of the phone with John Verscaj, Vice
President and General Counsel of Underwriters Labs. He (effectively) said
he understands our position and will not oppose it further. He is
investigating options with the IT Department of UL and with the upper
management of UL that will solve the problem at the UL end. The current
situation is that (as far as he knows) the "Internet E-mail
Confidentiality Disclaimer" is automatically appended to all
external e-mails as they leave UL.

Until he gets that problem solved I suggested that UL could correspond
with us via fax, postal mail or an outside e-mail account. I said that we
would respond promptly and were happy to work with them.

So, as far as I am concerned, this is no longer a priority issue. This
episode does point out that it would be useful to have relevant text in
our P&P. To that end (as promised earlier), I would like to put the
following text in as a proposed addition to the IEEE Project 802
Operating Rules. As an interested party and voting member of 802.3, I
would also propose the same text for adoption in 802.3, to be removed
upon adoption by 802. This is only because the adoption track for
non-controversial issues in 802.3 is faster.

Bob O'Hara, please put me down for a November Monday agenda item to
propose the following addition to the Operating Rules:

(We currently have no "Procedure" for how to achieve
"openness" in our meetings. I think this is a start on the more
general topic. I believe that the text is an accurate
representation of our long standing policy.)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

(Proposed documentation of existing) 802 Policy regarding restrictive
notices

IEEE 802 operates in an open manner.  To that end, no material
submitted to IEEE 802, or any of its sub-groups, will be accepted or
considered if that material contains any statement that places any burden
on the recipient(s) with respect to confidentiality or copyright. This
policy specifically includes e-mail.

Any material that has such a "Confidentiality Disclaimer" on it
is not acceptable. The purpose of such a disclaimer is to transfer some
level of responsibility to the recipient for deciding whether or not it
is appropriate to disclose, use, disseminate, copy, post or otherwise
distribute, the material.

IEEE 802 accepts no such responsibility.
The most effective way for 802 to decline any such responsibility is to
not accept material with such a disclaimer.

Correspondence with 802 groups will not be confidential. It is very
likely that any such correspondence (in addition to being discussed in
open meetings) will be posted in the open portion of our web-site and
thus will be disclosed, disseminated and distributed. Anyone who wishes
to correspond with an 802 group must understand and accept this as a
condition of sending us any documentation. Inclusion of any restrictive
notice is contrary to, and negates, any indication of acceptance of the
IEEE 802 policy of openness.

Copyrighted works may be accepted as submissions for inclusions in drafts
only with an appropriate release. Copyrighted works may be referenced in
drafts and presentations if they are available on reasonable and
non-discriminatory terms.
---------------------------------------------------

Best regards,

Geoff

|=========================================|
| Geoffrey O.
Thompson                   
|
| Vice Chair,  IEEE
802                  
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