The Quest

• Observations: some specifications take a very long time
• Does the W3C Process cause this effect?
• Ask the experts (the WG participants).
• Be willing to do what it takes to be more agile

Topics

• Proposed Changes to the W3C Process
• Practices for Agility
• The Role of Supergroups
• The Impact of the W3C Patent Policy

Proposed Process Changes

• Require a consideration of "testing*" earlier in the life of a Working Group
• Overlap PR step with CR; have AC comments be on CR
• Split Process Document into 3 parts - reduce apparent size
  1. Introduction (5%)
  2. The REC Track Process (45%)
  3. W3C Governance (50%)
• Provide a "simpler" path for (relatively small) changes to CR drafts

* "testing" is a shorthand for "demonstrating implementability of all features in a specification"

Practices for Agility

There are practices that help agility

• Insure that formal dependencies with Horizontal Working Groups are identified during Charter creation.
• Use a Coummunity Group to develop a First Public Working Draft as input to chartering a Working Group
• Make Editor's Drafts more Discoverable
• Integrate "testing" with specification development
• Modularize

Are SuperGroups the Solution or the Problem

Supergroups Exist

• Large WGs with multiple specifications in development
  • HTML5
  • CSS
  • WebApps
• Improved coordination over their specifications
• Patent commitments apply to all specification in the WG
• When (re-)chartering such groups, set expectations the group will likely not finish all relevant work within its next charter period

The Impact of the Patten Policy

IPR (to a large extent) is not the problem

• The Patent Policy requirements do impact W3C Process Steps
  • Makes getting the WG Scope in the Charter difficult to define
  • The First Public Working Draft needs to reflect the actual work scope

Patent Policy Considerations

Issues that the PSIG is considering:

• Normative references to specifications with essential patent encumbrance
• Does joining an existing WG require making IPR commitments to prior specifications of that WG?
• Maintenance: If only errata are fixed do patent commitments still apply?
• Should Patent Commitments take affect at CR rather than REC?
• Can the PAG process be improved?
• Should updates amend the Patent Policy or just the FAQ?