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LIC = "Individual Contributor" = an individual
NP = "Non-Profit" = any non-governmental non-profit organization
L0 = "Level 0" = 1-100 employees
L1 = "Level 1" = 101-1000 employees
L2 = "Level 2" = 1001-25000 employees
L3 = "Level 3" = more than 25000 employees
Is Kantara Initiative a Standards Setting Organization?
Kantara Initiative is not a standards setting organization for technical specifications. The output of Kantara Initiative is called a Recommendation. Any kind of work can be done in Kantara Initiative but if the work is a technical specification it must be submitted to an SSO upon completion. Other "standards" work such as Operational Frameworks or Usability Guidelines or Interoperability Testing Procedures are the primary focus of Kantara Initiative and will be both developed and maintained by the organization.
Why was Kantara Initiative formed?
It was formed by leaders of other foundations and associations working on various aspects of digital identity, aka "the Venn of Identity" to be robust and well-funded focal point for collaboration to address the issues we each share: Interoperability & Interoperability and Compliance Testing, ; Identity Assurance, Policy & ; Policy and Legal Issues: Privacy, Ownership & Liability, UX & Usability, Cross-Community Coordination & Collaboration, Education & Outreach, Market Research, Use Cases & Requirements, Harmonization, ; Privacy; Ownership and Liability; UX and Usability; Cross-Community Coordination and Collaboration; Education and Outreach; Market Research; Use Cases and Requirements; Harmonization; and Tool Development.
Why does Kantara Initiative have multiple IPR Policies?
Due to the nature of Kantara Initiative, as a focal point for collaboration between stakeholders across the Venn of Identity, we have chosen an IPR regime that is inclusive. There is a list of pre-approved IPR Policies that founders of a Work Group can choose from. In addition, there is a clear process for proposing a new IPR Policy to the Leadership Council in a WG proposal which will be taken to the Board of Trustees for approval. We have every expectation the list of IPR Policies will grow as the community takes advantage of the Kantara Initiative infrastructure for collaboration. A list of available IPR policies is available.
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The formation of Kantara Initiative is being driven by a common purpose -- to accelerate adoption of digital identity solutions by Relying Parties -- the organizations, applications and services that require identity credentials to complete an online transaction. In order to do this, many industry stakeholders are coming together to define common goals and strategic adoption and marketing efforts that will benefit all standards-based solutions available to the ecosystem today. These solutions are based on protocols that may include OpenID, OAuth, InfoCard, ID-WSF, WS*, IAF, IGF, XDI, XACML, and SAML.
What is unique about Kantara Initiative?
The formation of Kantara Initiative marks the first time so many stakeholders representing varying initiatives have come together to address common challenges collaboratively. Kantara Initiative founders, members and members participants recognize the success individual organizations and initiatives have in the market today, but they also recognize that the industry is at a crossroad, and without collaboration deployment of interoperable identity systems will continue to be delayed. Kantara Initiative members participants and members are leveraging the experience and successes of each other to collaboratively advance interoperable identity solutions as well as incubate new and emerging ideas.
How can so many organizations work together effectively?
The organizations and , participants and members coming together within Kantara Initiative understand the urgency involved in eliminating market fragmentation among multiple identity specifications and fostering interoperability between enterprise and Web 2.0 applications and services. The Kantara Initiative membership model will provide the flexibility and organizational support required to ensure maximum collaboration among experts and projects leads that will lead to speeding deliverables to the marketplace. Additionally, since different IPR models are available for the projects to choose from as they charter, this model supports the different ways that members might want to operate depending on the type of work they are doing.
What are the benefits to participating organizations and individuals?
Collaboration between enterprise and Web communities within Kantara Initiative will make it easier to leverage the work of each other, leading to the creation of holistic identity solutions that are delivered to the market faster. Organizations and individuals joining Kantara Initiative have an opportunity to shape the future of digital Identity management - from conception and incubation of a project, participating in the final vote on projects, to supporting short and long-term adoption strategies.
Who can/should join Kantara Initiative?
Identity organizations and their members, vendors and their employees working in the identity sector, developers, open source communities, legal, privacy and business experts - all organizations and individuals interested in contributing to a safer Internet for users and people are encourage to join the Kantara Initiative community. Membership Participation is free, with no barriers to participation.