Re: Unknown content types

On Wed, 2003-07-09 at 13:23, Tim Bray wrote:
> Julian Reschke wrote:
> 
> 
> > 1) If a sender (mail agent, HTTP server, ....) doesn't know the MIME type,
> > specify "application/octet-stream" (note that RFC2616, section 7.2.1 [1]
> > says "...SHOULD include a Content-Type header..."). In turn, allow
> > recipients to override the supplied MIME type if and only if it equals
> > "application/octet-stream" and to guess (for instance by peeking into the
> > content).
> > 
> > or
> > 
> > 2) If a sender (mail agent) / server (HTTP server) doesn't know the MIME
> > type, DO NOT SEND IT. This allows the recipient to guess and/or consult the
> > user.
> > 
> > (my personal preference would be alternative 2 because it doesn't require to
> > special-case one particular MIME type).

Would there be any advantages to sending something like
'application/unknown' as a positive assertion?

 - Ian

-- 
Ian Jacobs (ij@w3.org)   http://www.w3.org/People/Jacobs
Tel:                     +1 718 260-9447