[Idr] Fwd: Announcement - New IETF Note Well October 2025

[Jeffrey Haas <[e-mail]>]

The "note well"[1] is the high level agreement each of us is bound by in order to participate in the IETF.  Each IETF participant is expected to be familiar with its contents.  From a practical matter, this is often about intellectual property considerations and things that concern our employers' legal departments.

The point raised below about "behavior" has been made more significant in the note well.  This reflects an unfortunate trend in IETF related to some participants exhibiting bad faith engagement in working group activities.  This has caused additional engagement with the IETF ombudsteam[2], and discussions about how such behavior should be moderated[3] and a significant input to discussions in the working group updating those moderation procedures[4].

IDR participants are expected to behave courteously to each other and engage in good faith debate discussion on working group proposals.  Primarily, this means avoiding ad hominem attacks.  Somewhat more generally, it means avoiding bad faith debate techniques.  Such bad faith techniques are often well known logical fallacies.  A list of such things is referenced[5] for your information.

-- Jeff

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nota_bene <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nota_bene>
[2] https://www.ietf.org/contact/ombudsteam/ <https://www.ietf.org/contact/ombudsteam/>
[3] https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/draft-ietf-modpod-group-processes/
[4] https://datatracker.ietf.org/wg/modpod/about/
[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fallacies

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: IETF Chair <[e-mail]>
> Subject: Announcement - New IETF Note Well October 2025
> Date: October 23, 2025 at 5:48:01 PM EDT
> To: "IETF Announcement List" <[e-mail]>
> Reply-To: [e-mail]
> 
> A new version of the IETF Note Well has now been approved by the IESG 
> following a comprehensive review by the IETF Executive Director and 
> IETF Counsel.  This new version improves upon the previous version in 
> the following ways:
> 
>  • Moves to the top the notice that by participating in the IETF, you 
>    agree to follow IETF processes and policies
>  • Changes the emphasis with the first substantive point being about 
>    behavior
>  • Uses direct quotes from BCPs or text provided by counsel
>  • Merges the two lists into one by using inline references
>  • References individual RFCs not BCPs so that people can find the 
>    referenced document immediately.
> 
> The Note Well will continue to be shown at the start of every session 
> in an IETF Meeting and every interim meeting. The IESG has provided 
> updated guidance to WG Chairs on what to say when presenting the Note 
> Well [1] and the template slides have been updated.
> 
> Given the short time before IETF 124 Montreal, the new version should 
> be used if reasonably possible but if not then the old version will 
> suffice for this meeting.
> 
> The text of the new Note Well is below and the clickable version and 
> slides are on the IETF website [2].
> 
> —-
> By participating in the IETF you agree to follow IETF processes and 
> policies. This Note Well is a reminder of some of those policies.  For 
> a linked version of this text, please visit www.ietf.org/note-well or 
> use the QR code below.
> 
> IETF participants are expected to behave in a professional manner and 
> extend respect and courtesy to their colleagues at all times (see RFC 
> 7154: IETF Guidelines for Conduct and IETF Anti-Harassment Policy). If 
> you have any concerns about behavior, please contact the Ombudsteam who 
> have a duty of confidentiality and extensive powers to act, as set out 
> in RFC 7776: IETF Anti-Harassment Procedures.
> 
> If you are aware that any IETF contribution (as defined in RFC 5378: 
> Rights Contributors Provide to the IETF Trust) is covered by patents or 
> patent applications that are owned or controlled by you, your employer 
> or your sponsor, you must disclose that fact, or not participate in the 
> discussion (see RFC 8179: Intellectual Property Rights in IETF 
> Technology).
> 
> For detailed process information consult RFC 2026: Internet Standards 
> Process and RFC 2418: IETF Working Group Guidelines and Procedures and 
> updates to those.
> 
> The IETF routinely makes public written, audio, video, and photographic 
> records of IETF activities, including your personal information as set 
> out in the IETF Privacy Statement. 
> 
> For advice, please talk to Working Group chairs or Area Directors.
> —-
> 
> [1] https://chairs.ietf.org/en/meetings#meeting-planning-templates-guides-and-tools
> [2] https://www.ietf.org/about/note-well/
> 
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