Dear all,
please treat the Springer document confidential. I got a message from the IFIP president (see below) + a corresponding (nevertheless freindly) phone from him.
He said in his phone call - that he welocmes all TC6 activities with DL - and that he is concerned about the slow pace of the development.
He would consider activities such as coming from Google as very positive. He invited us to study perhaps other possibilities (such as Wiki or Greenhouse, New Zealand).
Hs concern is that Springer might create some trouble and some further blocking if it would become known that their proposal has been widely distributed and discussed within IFIP.
Best regards Otto
--------------------------------------- Message from Klaus Brunnstein:
Dear Otto, I have been informed that you distributed internal details concerning a potential offer fo SSB to IFIP to TC-6. This document is even not IFIP-official as it was NOT sent to or received from IFIP EB and president.
While I very much welcome any suggestions from TCs on related matters, and while GENERAL discussions about alternative solutions e.g. for DL are always welcome, the untimely disclosure of internal documents is not acceptable as this may significantly weaken IFIPs position in contractual discussions with SSBM esp. when competitors have been unduely informed. You may remember that the development of an IFIP DL is adressed (though deliberately vague) in the SSBM-IFIP contract. Hence, I ask you to inform TC-6 about the confidentiality of the related details of INTERNAL discussions in PC.
Concerning "fallout" from related discussions in TC-6, please keep PC chair and Publications officer informed as IFIP must be aware of any unwished side-effects on contractual matters.
Best wishes: Klaus (November 23, 2006)