RFC 2: Branching RSS

[Aaron Swartz <aswartz@swartzfam.com>]

I want to thank everyone for their contributions to the discussion so far,
and here's my proposal for the next step in RSS development. Comments are
appreciated. Also as usual, I speak only on behalf of myself.

** Freezing RSS

RSS is declared frozen at 0.91. Everyone is asked not to develop any new
formats with the RSS name. RSS 0.91 is documented through a collaborative
effort on behalf of the Syndication list, based on Dave Winer's version. It
will be put at a neutral address such as <http://purl.org/rss/0.91/>. The
specification will maintain a copyright notice that allows it to be copied
in whole or in part. It can include pointers to other branches of RSS

** Branching RSS

Both branches of RSS take new names, possibly RSS-Semantic (currently RSS
1.0) and RSS-Simple (currently RSS 0.92/3). These new names will be used in
the rest of this document but that does not imply that these names must be
chosen.

The RSS-DEV Working Group will rename their spec and working group but
continue to maintain the RSS-Semantic branch. They will encourage others to
correct documents that refer to "RSS 1.0".

UserLand will rename the format used in their software as well as the
current RSS-Simple specs. They will encourage other users of the spec to do
the same. If an RSS-Simple Working Group is formed it will not use RSS as
the name of its spec.

No party will extend RSS 0.90/1 with new features (new elements, etc.)
without using a new name. Changes currently in use (such as removing element
length restrictions, etc.) will continue to be allowed.

** Arbitration

If there are disputes about this agreement, they will be arbitrated by a
group of three active developers chosen from the Syndication list, one to be
chosen by each side and agreeable to the other, and a Mark Nottingham, the
founder of the Syndication list, will chose a third (possibly himself) who
must also be agreeable to both sides. Decisions of the three-person panel
will be made in a timely fashion and will be final.

** Acceptance

If this proposal is not accepted by both UserLand and the current RSS-DEV
Working Group its terms are not enforceable.

All parties agree to put the past fully behind us. Discussion of events that
took place before agreement was reached will be off-topic on all three mail
lists.

-- 
[ Aaron Swartz | me@aaronsw.com | http://www.aaronsw.com ]