Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Recommendation
A recommendation is the highest level of W3C standard. However, the W3C is very
careful not to actually call this a “standard” for fear of running afoul of antitrust
statutes. The W3C describes a recommendation as a “work that represents con‐
sensus within W3C and has the Director's stamp of approval. W3C considers that
the ideas or technology specified by a Recommendation are appropriate for wide‐
spread deployment and promote W3C's mission.”
PR Standards
Companies seeking a little free press or perhaps a temporary boost to their stock price
have sometimes abused both the W3C and IETF standards processes. The IETF will
accept a submission from anyone, and the W3C will accept a submission from any W3C
member. The IETF calls these submissions “Internet drafts” and publishes them for six
months before deleting them. The W3C refers to such submissions as “acknowledged
submissions” and publishes them indefinitely. However, neither organization actually
promises to do more than acknowledge receipt of these documents. In particular, they
do not promise to form a working group or begin the standardization process. None‐
theless, press releases invariably misrepresent the submission of such a document as a
far more significant event than it actually is. PR reps can generally count on suckering
at least a few clueless reporters who aren't up to speed on the intimate details of the
standardization process. However, you should recognize these ploys for what they are.
