w3process-ISSUE-172 (Define MoU): What is a "Memorandum of Understanding"? [Process Document]

w3process-ISSUE-172 (Define MoU): What is a "Memorandum of Understanding"? [Process Document]

http://www.w3.org/community/w3process/track/issues/172

Raised by: Charles McCathie Nevile
On product: Process Document

This is raised on behalf of Daniel Dardailler. 

Request:
     - provide a definition for our use of the term "Memorandum of 
Understanding (MoU)" in the Liaisons section.
     https://www.w3.org/2015/Process-20150901/#Liaisons


Rationales:
     - the Team is often asked to sign "MoUs" with other organizations 
that are just simple liaisons from our point of view, that is, they do 
not justify Member review, but because the other parties call them 
"MoU", and insist on doing so, we are often in an unclear situation (is 
it a "real" MoU ? should we inform our members ?).

    - MoU is as good as any other similar name like "Agreement" or 
"Partnership", "Formal liaison", so we only need to provide details for 
our own meaning of the term, and need not to change it.


Proposed modification:
    - no change to the text using the term MoU, only make the term a link 
to a new definition entry, that can be added elsewhere

    - Suggested new definition:

      "In the context of the W3C Process, an MoU is a formal agreement, 
i.e. a contractual framework with W3C rights and obligations, that 
involves joint deliverables, an agreed share of technical 
responsibilities with due coordination, and/or considerations for 
confidentiality and specific IPR. The agreement may actually be called 
something else that an MoU, and something called an MoU may not be a W3C 
MoU in that sense.

- https://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-w3process/2016May/0034.html

Received on Sunday, 14 August 2016 12:07:25 UTC