Comment on CURIE Syntax 1.0

The XML CG has reviewed CURIE Syntax 1.0 [1] and offers the following 
comment:

The Namespace specification defined QNames and allowed their use as 
element names and attribute names. XML Schema defines xs:QName and 
xs:anyURI types and allows these types to be used to define attributes and 
elements. The XQuery 1.0 and XPath 2.0 Data Model (XDM) uses the types 
defined in XML Schema.

The XML CG observes significant changes between the Working Draft of 7 
March 2007 and the earlier draft that we previously saw.  In general, 
those changes ameliorated our earlier concerns, but we believe that the WD 
should go a little further.  In the (non-normative) sections 1 
(Introduction) and 1.1 (Existing Use of CURIEs), misuse of well-defined 
terms occurs several times.  In particular, those sections incorrectly use 
the terms "QName" and "URI".  Even though the normative portions of the WD 
no longer misuse those terms, we believe that the non-normative sections 
should clearly state that it is inappropriate to use those terms for the 
purposes addressed by this specification.

We remain concerned that CURIEs are being defined for use in XML grammars 
without defining precisely where they can occur, without defining their 
Infoset contributions, and without extending XML Schema.  If these objects 
are of significant importance in the XML community, it is appropriate to 
propose that XML Schema define them for more general use (including in the 
XQuery 1.0 and XPath 2.0 Data Model (XDM)).

                                                -- Andrew

[1] CURIE Syntax 1.0
http://www.w3.org/TR/curie

--------------------
Andrew Eisenberg
IBM
4 Technology Park Drive
Westford, MA  01886

andrew.eisenberg@us.ibm.com
Phone: 978-399-5158    Fax: 978-399-7012