Switch to new W3C Patent Policy?

[tidoust]

A new version of the W3C Patent Policy has been reviewed by the advisory committee and adopted by W3C. All new groups will operate under the new patent policy. Existing groups will continue to operate under the previous version of the W3C Patent Policy until they re-charter, but they may choose to switch to the new patent policy right away.

The main change is that, under the new patent policy, royalty-free commitments apply earlier, at the Candidate Recommendation phase, and not only at the Recommendation phase. In non legal terms, the new patent policy encourages implementations and usage earlier on.

If the group agrees to switch to the new patent policy, a new charter will be issued early December. Only change in that charter will be the patent policy. The end date, the scope, the list of deliverables, and everything else will remain untouched. The adoption of this new charter will be automatic (the new charter will not be sent to the advisory committee for review in particular). The only hiccup is that participants will have to re-join the WG afterwards.   Regardless of what the group decides today, it will have to switch to the new patent policy next time it re-charters. The current charter expires in May 2021. That is not too far away. That said, the group may publish a few Candidate Recommendation by then, which could take advantage of the new patent policy.

Deadline for requesting a switch to the new patent policy is 27 November.

Cc @mounirlamouri, @jernoble

[tidoust]

I haven't heard back from anyone, so let's continue as before. Group will stick to the current patent policy until it re-charters mid next year.