Re: The change from claims to credentials.

Dan,
Thanks for the historical context. However, a few questions remain for at
least one person trying to catch up on the group's history:

   - How are "claims" and "credentials" distinguished? (Examples would be
   useful.)
   - If they differ, is it still reasonable to use the workproduct of CCG
   to represent and exchange at least some non-credential claims?
   - Will the use of CCG workproduct to express and exchange claims require
   a reduction in either the semantic richness of claims or the facility to
   exchange them?
   - If CCG workproduct provides only limited support for claims, what is
   missing?
   - If there are missing things, is there any known group
   currently addressing the problem of making claims that are not credentials?
   - If such a group exists, should it seek to ensure compatibility with
   CCG workproduct? (If so, what is most important to agree on?)

bob wyman


On Mon, Aug 9, 2021 at 1:44 PM Daniel Burnett <
daniel.burnett@entethalliance.org> wrote:

> I can speak to this, having been heavily involved when it occurred.  The
> original VC work that spun out of CCG used the term "Verifiable
> Credential", because Credential is indeed the word with the most accurate
> connotations for what the work was about, as evidenced by many broad
> surveys and discussions.
> Unfortunately, at the time a number of the security folks at W3C objected
> to the word, claiming that "Credential" meant Username/Password.  In order
> to move the work forward we changed the name to Verifiable Claims.  That
> name persisted through the VCWG chartering process.  By the time the group
> started its work, those in the security space at W3C who had initially
> objected to the use of "Credential" had learned enough about the work to
> understand why that term was, indeed, correct.  We then changed the spec
> title as rapidly as we could and worked hard to only use "Verifiable
> Credentials" from then on.
>
> So if you ever hear anyone use the incorrect term, please correct them to
> "Verifiable Credentials".
>
> -- dan
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Snorre Lothar von Gohren Edwin <snorre@diwala.io>
> *Sent:* Monday, August 9, 2021 7:38 AM
> *To:* Credentials CG <public-credentials@w3.org>
> *Subject:* The change from claims to credentials.
>
> Hi! I just wonder and want to confirm
>
> In early days there was a lot of talk about verifiable claims. But it was
> a switch over to focus more on verifiable credentials.
>
> Do anyone have a briefe paragraph on the history of this focus change?
>
> --
>
> *Snorre Lothar von Gohren Edwin *
> Co-Founder & CTO, Diwala
> +47 411 611 94
> www.diwala.io
>