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

[Howard Frazier <millardo@dominetsystems.com>]

Geoff,

I suggest that 802's policy should parallel the policy that has been added
to the RevCom conventions, both for the sake of consistency, and because
the RevCom convention has already been reviewed by the IEEE-SA's
legal counsel.

Howard

Geoff Thompson wrote:

> 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                   |
> | Nortel Networks, Inc.  M/S: P79/06/B04  |
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> | E-Mail: thompson@ieee.org               |
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>