[CFRG] Re: Is it appropriate for an RFC to mention specific projects or companies?

[Michael StJohns <[e-mail]>]

On 8/1/2024 4:07 PM, Christopher Patton wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> I'm looking for advice on how to close this open issue for 
> draft-irtf-cfrg-vdaf:
> https://github.com/cfrg/draft-irtf-cfrg-vdaf/issues/338
>
> We currently mention a couple projects that motivated us to write down 
> these algorithms. Are there any guidelines at IRTF or IETF that can 
> help us figure out if this is appropriate?
>
> Thanks,
> Chris P.
>
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In Standards RFCs this is generally frowned upon in the main body of the 
document.   The standards process is supposed to be as open and 
contributor neutral as possible and anything that might hint of 
advertising should be avoided.

For CRFG (and Informational and ISE) - go for it.  Among other things, 
knowing which projects informed a research topic is useful even without 
direct cites to the resultant research and papers. In this paper - after 
about 3 minutes quick review - I think all of the references and 
commentary are useful and supportive to the document.

But, as Rich mentions, it's always OK to mention them - briefly - in the 
ACK section, regardless of the status of the RFC.

AFAIK, the only specific mention about things like this relate to some 
mailing lists - e.g. prohibiting mailings on the IETF and IRTF lists 
about non-IETF/ISOC related meetings for example. (See RFC 3005).  
Alternately, take a quick look at 4.10 and 4.11 of RFC7322...