I have not seen any restrictions on the downloading or using of the GRACoL data or specification.

So the “We need open print standards that can be implemented by anyone, without royalties or other restrictions” doesn’t hold water. i mean, it makes sense and I agree, but it doesn’t apply in this case.

If you want to get involved with the standard and actually work in the working groups, go to the meetings, make your equipment available for testing, VOTE and control the spec. etc THEN it makes sense to join. (that kind of committment is also going to cost a lot more than the membership fees)

It also make sense to restrict the people who belong to the actual contributor / controller group so there aren’t a bunch of tire-kickers who simply slow the process down. $2500 is a fair amount of money but not too unreasonable for those who actually are players and want to help shape the industry.

From their website “IDEAlliance is a not-for-profit membership organization”

In response to “I think a lot of these old-style industry organizations are going to get clobbered to death as they lose their stranglehold on information.” – I think it is important to realize that the IDEALliance does not have a stangle-hold on the information and, in fact, their value to the industry is the shepherding of standards. They need dues to operate and so charging fees required to operate seems fair to me. This is a printing specification for businesses to operate and control. We are not talking about the average consumer here. Also IDEALliance is not only responsible for GRACoL they also have SWOP and a number of other things under their umbrella so buying a member ship gives you access to a number of different works-in-progress.

This in NO WAY means that the results of the work are not available, FREE for anyone who wants to download and implement them. The G7 training guide is up there, free, the press run data is up there, free.

Dale

I have not seen any restrictions on the downloading or using of the GRACoL data or specification.

So the “We need open print standards that can be implemented by anyone, without royalties or other restrictions” doesn’t hold water. i mean, it makes sense and I agree, but it doesn’t apply in this case.

If you want to get involved with the standard and actually work in the working groups, go to the meetings, make your equipment available for testing, VOTE and control the spec. etc THEN it makes sense to join. (that kind of committment is also going to cost a lot more than the membership fees)

It also make sense to restrict the people who belong to the actual contributor / controller group so there aren’t a bunch of tire-kickers who simply slow the process down. $2500 is a fair amount of money but not too unreasonable for those who actually are players and want to help shape the industry.

From their website “IDEAlliance is a not-for-profit membership organization”

In response to “I think a lot of these old-style industry organizations are going to get clobbered to death as they lose their stranglehold on information.” – I think it is important to realize that the IDEALliance does not have a stangle-hold on the information and, in fact, their value to the industry is the shepherding of standards. They need dues to operate and so charging fees required to operate seems fair to me. This is a printing specification for businesses to operate and control. We are not talking about the average consumer here. Also IDEALliance is not only responsible for GRACoL they also have SWOP and a number of other things under their umbrella so buying a member ship gives you access to a number of different works-in-progress.

This in NO WAY means that the results of the work are not available, FREE for anyone who wants to download and implement them. The G7 training guide is up there, free, the press run data is up there, free.

Dale

See VIII. Differentiation of the .org TLD at http://www.icann.org/tlds/org/applications/organic/viii.html

If you read the IDEAlliance Bylaws you will see that the association is a Virginia Nonstock Corporation.

The Association is organized and shall be operated for such purposes permitted by the Articles of Incorporation and the Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act which are consistent with section 501(c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the “Code”).

IDEALLiance Bylaws: http://www.idealliance.org/about/bylaws&policies.asp

See VIII. Differentiation of the .org TLD at http://www.icann.org/tlds/org/applications/organic/viii.html

If you read the IDEAlliance Bylaws you will see that the association is a Virginia Nonstock Corporation.

The Association is organized and shall be operated for such purposes permitted by the Articles of Incorporation and the Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act which are consistent with section 501(c) (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (hereinafter referred to as the “Code”).

IDEALLiance Bylaws: http://www.idealliance.org/about/bylaws&policies.asp