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Subject: RE: [oasis-public-discuss] Advice on publishing open standards
Hi Steve, great question. Self-publishing might work for you, but history shows that will be a real long-shot for you. I hate to be blunt, or seem jaded, so let me explain why below, pointing out two key points. First, is global acceptance. Standards are really only standards when the ideas are widely adopted. Going through a formal standards process in a standards organization gives your work the adoptability you are seeking. All of the largest and most influential (which often includes very small firms as well) use some sort of formal standards organization and process to advance their work. They have proven that this is really the most efficient and effective means to driving the adoption that must be your end-goal. Second, are the things that drive adoption. The unfortunate reality is that your work is not measured on just its technical strengths, but also some very human issues - trust, quality and breadth of input, reliability of access etc. People strongly believe that a standard can only meet the needs of the broad marketplace when the marketplace has input into it. A formal standards process allows others to give input to your work - and that is helpful if you want to accommodate their use case, work with their products and services etc. (and those things sure have a big influence on their adoption of the standards) The OASIS process ensures that all contributors are treated fairly - your work can benefit from input, but not be steamrolled by some big company. The OASIS process gives great clarity around Intellectual Property - protecting the contributors and implementers alike. Once a specification is published in OASIS, there is no taking it back, there is no changing licensing terms, the documentation is not at risk of anyone's policy change or server failure making it go away--these are great comforts to folks considering adopting your work. So, let me reframe your question for you, and make it into two questions: Do you need a formal standard? I can't answer that for you. That question is best answered by you and your peers who would benefit from a common standard that would open new markets for your services, and by your existing and potential future clients who would benefit from reusing and repurposing. If you need a formal standard - Is OASIS the right home for your work? That answer too belongs with you, but I'd encourage you to discuss this further with the OASIS staff copied on this message. They can help you know what commitments you would be making, what benefits would inure, how we can help you build a community of support. I hope that helps, Scott McGrath Senior Director of Member Services Tel +1 978-667-5115 x202 Fax +1 978-667-5114 scott.mcgrath@oasis-open.org New to OASIS? Take a 3-minute tour: http://www.oasis-open.org/home/tour.php >-----Original Message----- >From: Steve Slevinski [mailto:slevin@signpuddle.net] >Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2008 3:19 PM >To: oasis-public-discuss@lists.oasis-open.org >Subject: [oasis-public-discuss] Advice on publishing open standards > >Greetings Oasis list, > >I'm curious about publishing open standards through Oasis. > >I am the sole developer working with the inventor of a sign language >script called SignWriting. People from around the world are using our >software to write dictionaries and documents for the various sign >languages. > >I am currently creating open standards based on my closed source >applications. > >Our latest symbol set was released under the Open Font License. The >character encoding model document is available under Creative Commons >by-sa. The server side font engine is GPL 3. A MediaWiki extension is >also GPL 3. > >By the end of next year, I should have the open standards fully >documented with a complete solution available under the GPL. > >I was wondering about the benefits of working with Oasis versus self >publishing. > >Regards, >-Steve
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