Ballot 206 –Amendment to IPR Policy & Bylaws re Working Group Formation

Ballot overview

• Ballot 206, Amendment to IPR Policy & Bylaws re Working Group Formation, was voted on by the CA/Browser Forum.
• The ballot proposed amendments to the IPR Policy and Bylaws, including rules for forming and operating new Forum working groups, clarifications for ballot handling, and approval of the Server Certificate Working Group charter.
• The ballot page states that the voting period ended and the ballot passed.

What the ballot changed

• The IPR Policy was amended to make patent licensing obligations depend on working group participation rather than Forum membership.
• The Bylaws were amended to:
  • set up and operate new Chartered Working Groups
  • allow Chartered Working Groups to create subcommittees without full Forum approval under their own approval process
  • clarify handling of faulty ballot votes
  • clarify how to resolve discrepancies between ballot text and attached redlines
  • specify how to finalize minutes when no meeting or teleconference occurs within 3 weeks after draft minutes are published
  • clarify the meanings of Forum Meetings and Forum Teleconferences
  • approve the charter for the Server Certificate Working Group
  • allow Legacy Working Groups to continue under old rules for up to 6 months before transitioning to a Chartered Working Group
  • standardize terminology for Forum members
  • correct non-substantive typos

Applicability and timing

• The ballot states that the amendments to the IPR Policy and Bylaws become effective 90 days after the date on which the vote for approval is final.
• The ballot also states that the amendments do not apply retroactively.
• Draft Guideline Ballots already in the Review Period when the amendments take effect must comply with the versions of the IPR Policy and Bylaws in effect when that Review Period began.

Voting and result

• Voting by CAs: 16 yes votes, 0 no votes, 0 abstain.
• Voting by browsers: 5 yes votes, 0 no votes, 0 abstain.
• Quorum requirements were met.
• The ballot page states that the approval thresholds were met for both CAs and browsers.
• The ballot page explicitly says Ballot 206 passes.

Dates

• Formal discussion period: 20 March 2018 2:38 PM PDT to 27 March 2018 8:00 PM PDT
• Vote for approval period: 27 March 2018 8:30 PM PDT to 3 April 2018 8:30 PM PDT
• The ballot text says the amendments become effective 90 days after the date on which the vote for approval is final.