Standard setting has historically benefited from the evolution of new processes and structures. Throughout that evolution, the commitment to openness has been a constant. Lately, that commitment seems to be weakening.
Coteries of companies develop specifications and shop them to consortia; Microsoft wants the industry to adopt (and license) its Caller ID anti-spam specifications; open source projects are everywhere (and variously structured); and Bloggers are flaming each other over competing flavors of content syndication. Is this any way to develop standards?
Administrative Law Judge Stephen McGuire gives round one to Rambus. And there’s only one round left.
There once was a time when running a standard setting organization was a pretty sedate and predictable way to make a living. Now you need to put out press releases to deny rumors that combustible RFID tags are contaminating the money supply.