Dear Sir,
As a network administrator of the University computing services at the
FUNDP University (Namur, Belgium), and as an individual, I oppose
the publication of draft-housley-tls-authz-extns as an experimental
standard.
The patent application disclosed by RedPhone Security has put any
free software attempting to implement these extensions in a very
difficult position. Free software developers cannot safely code to
the specifications without risking infringement on RedPhone's
patents. For example, as a result of these concerns and the
uncertain situation they create, GnuTLS has removed support for them
in its latest release -- and no other software maintained by the GNU
Project will be written to them.
I understand that the IETF and IESG largely share my view that
patent-encumbered standards are unacceptable. I believe that the
process has reached the proper conclusion -- the draft has been
rejected as a standard. Please do not allow this decision to be
negated by publishing it on the experimental track.
I agree with Sam Hartman that "often it seems that we use
informational as a way to publish things we cannot build a strong
consensus behind. I think that process is generally problematic and
would like to avoid it in this instance," and with Simon Josefsson
that "[g]iven that the initial last call was to put the document on
the standards track, my impression would be that this last call
request for the experimental track is indeed intended to circumvent
the normal process."
In the long term, widespread adoption of something published on this
track would put software authors in the same bad position as if the
document were approved as a standard. Please respect the consensus
that has been reached and do not publish this draft.
Yours truly,
--
*Bruno Delcourt*
36, Rue René Rubay
B-5032 Isnes - Belgique
Tél. +32 (81) 56 92 37
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