[ietf-types] Update on the pending registration of text/n3

[Nathan <[e-mail]>]

Hi,

I've been asked to find out about the registration of the 'text/n3' 
media type, relating to Notation3 [1,2]. To quote from the annotated 
design issue [2]:

   """The type application/n3 was applied for in 2002 and again in 
2006. The IETF-W3C liaison meeting established that the mime type 
would be formally awarded when the N3 specification was in a 
'published' form. In the mean time, it should be used as part of the 
point of N3 is to be human readable, and so the text tree is 
indicated. The application for text/rdf+n3 with the IANA registry is 
pending as of 2006-02 as IANA #5004. There was an agreement to change 
it to text/n3 as the rdf+ idea met with significant criticism. While 
registration is pending, applications should use the proposed type in 
anticipation of registration, not an x- type."""

The specification is now 'solid', and has been for a considerable 
time, further:

- There are many implementations which have been made over the 10 years
- There is a significant amount of Notation3 data available on the web 
and in use
- There is significant reluctance to further deploy Notation3 data 
based PURELY on the lack of MIME registration.
- There is still a lot of confusion as to what the content-type is (as 
no media type is registered)
- There is no entry in the default Apache mime.types file, so serving 
and negotiating these files is more difficult.

Consequently, can you give either myself or Tim Berners-Lee (cc-d) an 
update on the pending application, or inform us as to the best course 
of action in order to get the 'text/n3' media type registered in a 
timely fashion.

Best,

Nathan

[1] http://www.w3.org/TeamSubmission/n3/
[2] http://www.w3.org/DesignIssues/Notation3