diff --git a/index.bs b/index.bs index 350a19fd..6995d468 100644 --- a/index.bs +++ b/index.bs @@ -5070,39 +5070,47 @@ Liaisons confidentiality agreements; and mutual membership agreements. - The [=CEO=] may negotiate - a Memorandum of Understanding with another organization. - For purposes of the W3C Process, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) - is a formal agreement or similar contractual framework between W3C and another party or parties, - other than between W3C and W3C members - for the purposes of membership, - and other agreements related to the ordinary provision of services - for the purpose of running W3C, - that specifies rights and obligations of each party toward the others. + W3C may negotiate + [=technical agreements=] with another organization. + For purposes of the W3C Process, + a technical agreement is a formal contract, + or a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), + or a similar document, + between W3C and another party or parties, + that relates to the technical activity of the Consortium + (e.g., its publications, groups, or liaisons). + It specifies rights and obligations of each party toward the others. These rights and obligations may include joint deliverables, an agreed share of technical responsibilities with due coordination, and/or considerations for confidentiality and specific IPR. - The agreement may be called something other than a “Memorandum of Understanding”, - and something called a “Memorandum of Understanding” - might not be an [=MoU=] for the purposes of the Process. - When considering an MoU + Non-technical agreements, including + those between W3C and its [=Members=] for the purposes of membership, + between W3C and its Partners for the purposes of partnership [[BYLAWS]], + and other agreements related to the operation of the Consortium + or to the ordinary provision of services, + are not subject to these Process provisions. + + When considering a [=technical agreement=] (i.e., before the decision whether to sign is made), the Team should provide - the [=Advisory Committee=] with a draft of the proposed MoU, - along with an explanation of how W3C would benefit from signing this MoU, + the [=Advisory Committee=] with a draft of the proposed [=agreement=], + along with an explanation of how W3C would benefit from signing this [=agreement=], for their review and discussion. After addressing any comments, - if the [=Team Decision|Team decides=] to proceed with signing the MoU, + and subject to any management or governance procedures that apply + (e.g., formal review of proposed contracts by legal counsel or by the [=Board=]), + if the [=Team Decision|Team decides=] to proceed with signing the [=agreement=], the Team must announce the intent to sign, - and provide the final text of the MoU + and provide the final text of the [=agreement=], with an explanation of signing rationale, to the [=Advisory Committee=]. [=Advisory Committee representatives=] may initiate an [=Advisory Committee Appeal=] - of the decision to sign the [=MoU=]. - Unless an [=appeal=] rejects the proposal to sign an MoU, - the [=CEO=] may sign the [=MoU=] on behalf of W3C. - A signed [=Memorandum of Understanding=] should be made public. + of the decision to sign the [=agreement=]. + If the proposal is rejected on [=appeal=], + the [=Team=] must not sign the [=agreement=] on behalf of W3C + unless directed to do so by the [=Board=]. + A signed [=agreement=] should be made public. Information about W3C liaisons with other organizations [[LIAISON]] and the guidelines W3C follows when creating a liaison is available on the Web.