Re: What to incorporate (Re: Options for IETF administrative restructuring)

> 
> Harald sed:
>    scenarios C and D envision incorporating the *support function* for the 
>    IETF. The IETF would remain an undefined entity under these scenarios.
> 
>    I've had another suggestion that the IETF (the real technical process 
>    entity) should become a formally recognizable entity of some sort (possibly 
>    an unincorporated organization). But that's distinct from the idea of 
>    incorporating the support function, and is NOT described in the current 
>    document.
> 
> imho both C & D would be seen by most or the world as incorporating 
> *the IETF*  - if there is confusion within the IETF over the
> difference between incorporating the *support function* and 
> incorporating the whole IETF the difference would be totally lost
> by non-IETFers (and most IETFers is my guess) - in any case, the 
> target of any legal attack on the IETF would be the corporation with 
> IETF in the name if one existed - about the only way I could see that
> there woudl not be confusion wiuld be to call the corporation "The
> Corporation to Support Internet Standardization" (TCTSIS or TCSIC) and
> not have the IETF name in it.
> 

Perceptions are always important.  Under Scenario's A and B, likewise,
the Internet Society probably gets to be a target.

On the other hand, one benefit of incorporating an entity, such as
an administrative support structure, is you can, to some extent,
insulate yourself from frivolous attacks.  You can also limit
liability on non-frivolous attacks.  Just as importantly, you
have standing to enforce agreements, such as contracts with
support organizations.

Harald mentioned some other structures available.  One possibility is
the "unincorporated association" on which I've been doing some research.  It
will be in my next rev of the report, but people are always welcome to look
at the work in progress:

http://public.resource.org/adminrest/

-01 is the unpublished work in progress.  "Scenario E" discusses the
concept of the unincorporated association.  Comments are welcome.
I expect to put this next rev into the i-d queue on Monday.  I still
have some cleanup to do to incorporate comments by Bob Kahn and
Brian Carpenter, and am trying to clean up the RFP stuff to make
it a bit clearer.

Regards,

Carl

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