Open Cloud Principles

From Open Cloud Initiative (OCI) Wiki

Interoperability (the ability to exchange and use information) is an absolute requirement for unrestricted competition between vendors and unrestricted choice for users.

Users must be able to come (no barriers to entry) and go (no barriers to exit) regardless of who they are (no discrimination) and what systems they use (technological neutrality).

RFC 2119 requirement levels are used throughout.

[edit] Principles

1. Open APIs: Key functionality must implement Open Standard APIs.
2. Open Formats: User data must be represented in Open Standard formats.
3. Open Source: System software may be licensed in compliance with the Open Source Definition or placed into the public domain.
4. Open Data: User data may be licensed in compliance with the Open Knowledge Definition

[edit] Standards

1. Open Standards must meet the following requirements:
   
   1. Copyrights: The standard is documented in all its details, has been published and is both accessible and usable free of charge
   2. Patents: Any patents possibly present on [parts of] the standard are irrevocably made available on a royalty-free basis
   3. Trademarks: Any trademarks possibly present on identifier(s) are used for non-discriminatory enforcement of compliance only
2. Open Standards should also meet the following requirements:
   
   1. Impartiality: The standard is adopted and maintained by a non-profit organisation which operates a completely free access policy
   2. Implementations: There are multiple implementations from multiple vendors, at least one of which is Open Source
   3. Process: The standard is adopted on the basis of an open, equal-weighted decision-making procedure (consensus or majority decision etc)
   4. Reuse: There are no constraints on the re-use of the standard; a Creative Commons [dual] license applies (excluding NC and ND variants)