JTC1 meeting

[James Bryce Clark <jamie.clark@oasis-open.org>]

Dear members of the UOML-X TC:

We look forward to speaking with you, shortly, on the conference call with
Paul Cotton, who SC34 has designated as the BRM chairman for resolving
open comments and the final International Standard vote on your UOML v1
part 1 standard, which also is ISO/IEC DIS 14297.

As as you've discussed with several of us at your TC meetings, we must
satisfy both OASIS and JTC1 PAS rules in order to successfully
conclude the voting process.  JTC1's requirements are published in the
PAS rules, and Mr. Cotton will be able to answer any questions tonight
(US time).

Our own OASIS rules require that any changes to the OASIS Standard
can be made -- and can be given to JTC1 -- only using one of two paths
defined in our TC Process:  as an "Approved Errata" or a new
"OASIS Standard."  Questions about THOSE rules should be addressed
to my colleague, our Director of Standards and TC Administrator,
Mary McRae, at the upcoming meeting.

Let me offer a summary here, to show how the two sets of rules may combine.

Beginning in May, when the JTC1 vote was announced, your TC could
choose to take either of those two paths.  But one path takes a much
longer time to complete.  A new "OASIS Standard" requires several
steps and reviews, If by now, if that path has not been started, it
might be difficult or impossible to complete in time for the September
BRM.

An "Approved Errata" process can be completed in slightly more than a
month, if there are no later changes, and requires no OASIS member
ballot. So it definitely could be possible to complete that approval,
or be immediately ready for it, before the BRM.

Also, if the BRM meeting requests more new changes, at the meeting,
and the TC wishes to consider them, it might be possible to respond by
a new draft and Approved Errata, approved after the BRM.  if that
happens, the OASIS approval process must conclude within the deadline
by which the JTC1 BRM will accept any confirmed changes.  We should
talk with Mr. Cotton about this tonight.

However, please note the limit discussed last month:  ONLY changes
that are defined as NOT "Substantive Changes" in our OASIS TC Process
may be made by an Approved Errata vote.  This is because our members
already approved the original, and a bigger change would require them
to re-consider it.  We must talk also with Ms. McRae about that, so
that your TC and its editors do not propose the types of change which
would make it impossible to get OASIS approval.

One more issue I wish to mention is format:   JTC1 rules permit a
first approved PAS submission from OASIS to be placed in the OASIS
format -- not reformatted like JTC1's own produced standards.  So, we
may also wish to discuss with you, and your editors, how to minimize
changes that are not needed for JTC1.

We look forward to speaking with you shortly.  Regards

~ James Bryce Clark
~ General Counsel, OASIS
~ http://www.oasis-open.org/who/staff.php#clark