[Openicc] ISO - Open vs. Free (was Linux CM ideology)

[Graeme Gill]

Leonard Rosenthol wrote:
> You are missing half the picture, Graeme...
>
> While it is true that the ISO charges for their standards, there is NO
> CHARGE to participate in the DEVELOPMENT of that standard.  So ANYONE can
> help define it - and if you help, you get a copy for free (and early
> access!)

I have no clever suggestions about how ISO should fund itself it it didn't
charge for it's standards, so I perfectly understand why things work that way.
But the way things work has a considerable disadvantage when the target users of
the standards are not full time paid professionals. In contrast things like
RFC's and the ICC standard can be more widely and easily embraced.

I'm afraid I don't take the suggestion that participating in the standards making
process is actually cheaper very seriously. Attending meetings would be frightfully
expensive for a volunteer - an international return air fare + accommodation + taking
the time off.  The reality is that participation is only possible if a company or
suitably funded organization is prepared to back it. Even then it's often only
possibly on the back of other commitments such as related conferences.

Graeme Gill.