Ballot SC016: Other Subject Attributes

Ballot overview

• Ballot SC016, Other Subject Attributes, was a Server Certificate Working Group ballot.
• The ballot passed.
• It was described as a set of Final Maintenance Guidelines.

What the ballot changed

• In the Baseline Requirements, it capitalized the heading of section 7.1.4 Name Forms.
• It added a requirement that Subject attributes must not contain only metadata such as dot, hyphen, or space characters, or any other indication that the value is absent, incomplete, or not applicable.
• It replaced BR section 7.1.4.2.2(j) so that other subject attributes may be present in the subject field, but if present they must contain information verified by the CA.
• In the EV Guidelines, it replaced section 9.2.8 so that the CA must implement a process preventing an OU attribute from including certain names or text referring to a specific natural person or legal entity unless verified under Section 11, and the field must not contain only metadata or other indications that the value is absent, incomplete, or not applicable.
• It added EV Guidelines section 9.2.9 stating that CAs shall not include any Subject attributes except as specified in Section 9.2.

Voting and approval

• Voting by Certificate Issuers: 20 yes, 0 no, 2 abstain.
• Voting by Certificate Consumers: 4 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain.
• The ballot states the bylaw requirements were met for both Certificate Issuers and Certificate Consumers.
• The ballot also states quorum was met.

Procedure dates

• Discussion period: March 1, 2019 17:00 UTC to after March 8, 2019 17:00 UTC.
• Voting period: March 8, 2019 19:00 UTC to March 15, 2019 19:00 UTC.