Re: [antitrust-policy] how does that affect those with no competitive interests?

[Thomas Narten <[e-mail]>]

Stephen Farrell <[e-mail]> writes:

> My point is that this policy assumes that all participants can
> in principle be anti-competition which seems like nonsense to
> me.

Not to put too fine a point on this, but engineers with no background
in anti-trust opining "much ado about nothing, I work for XYZ which
can't possibly cause an issue" makes a good argument for why we do
need a policy. But it better be simple, clear and be understandable by
IETF participants. And maybe calling it a "policy" goes to far. What
we need is enough basic education about participant behavior to make
sure the IETF keeps out of trouble.

Much as we might like to ignore IPR, anti-trust, and other
non-engineering issues, we are potentially impacted by them, and the
IETF could (if it or its participants behave stupidly), could find
itself in a Heap of Pain.

But let's keep perspective here. Some simple guidelines, with an
understanding that if folk start going into dangerous territory that
needs to be stopped is probably about all we need.

Thomas