Re: "An open letter" signed by some IAB members

[Bob Hinden <[e-mail]>]

Terry, Barry,

> On Nov 19, 2019, at 3:03 PM, Terry Manderson <[e-mail]> wrote:
> 
>> On 19 Nov 2019, at 2:42 pm, Barry Leiba <[e-mail]> wrote:
>> 
>> I think this is wildly inappropriate.  I think those of us in IETF
>> leadership should be scrupulously careful NOT to call out our IETF
>> affiliations this way unless we are speaking for the organization.
>> The fact that the letter refers to things that have been published
>> with IAB consensus doesn’t change the fact that the *letter* does not
>> have IAB consensus, and we must be careful not to give the impression
>> that it does.
>> 
> 
> Wildly? I don’t share that view. Generally inappropriate - yes.

I agree it was inappropriate.

> 
>> happen again, and I hope the ensuing discussion supports that.
>> 
> 
> The answer here, in my opinion, is fairly simple.
> 
> If the IAB make a statement, we know what that looks like.
> 
> If a collective of individuals choose to make a statement then it is done with ALL of their credentials (with permission), or none of their credentials. If a company (as a part of their credentials list) decides to not allow someone to not include them, then I feel that person shouldn’t use any credentials aside from their own academic honorific.

I think that is correct for the reasons you state.

Note, if I had been asked, I would have signed it.   I would have not included my day job affiliation, nor any other organization I am involved with.

I would be fine if Ted adds my name to the letter.

Bob




> 
> This is something that was drummed into me years ago by a brilliant legal rep.
> Simply; “you don’t speak for them, nor can you imply it, unless you have their express permission - removing some, but keeping others associates weight of support from an organisation” I remember those words so clearly.
> 
> Of course, YMMV.
> 
> Cheers,
> Terry
> 
>