This exclusive interview with Mr Edvard Kožušník, Rapporteur of the EU Internal Market and Consumer Protection (IMCO) Committee, was conducted for Talkstandards.com via email during July 2010 in relation to the Open Forum on Transparency in EU Standardization.

The IMCO recently hosted a public hearing on the Future of European Standardisation which Mr Kožušník co-chaired. The outline of the hearing, including the presentations made can be found here.

Join the Forum discussion here: www.talkstandards.com/questions-for-event-reforming-eu-standardization/

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The draft report of the Committee of the Internal Market and Consumer Protection of the European Parliament endorses the general structure of the European Standardisation System (ESS). In particular, the national delegation principle is confirmed as a key element of the ESS. However, the Committee emphasises that the stakeholder involvement – specifically SMEs, consumers and other representatives of social interest group – has to be improved both at the level of NSBs (National Standards Bodies) and ESOs (European Standards Organisations). In this context, proposals are made which are not in accordance with the national delegation principle.

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This is Part 6 in a series of articles in which contributor Stacy Baird presents and in-depth analysis of the role of governments in standards setting initiatives which is released on a bi-weekly basis. For previous instalments see here: Part 4, Part 5 – Editor

PART 6: The Well Developed Range of Standards, both Proprietary and Open, Reflect a Sophisticated Standards-Setting Ecosystem

Previously I described the several forums and market characteristics that can develop an IT standard: SDOs, patent pools, market driven de facto standards and consortia. As further evidence of the sophistication of the IT standards-setting marketplace, there are numerous and highly differentiated types of standards that can achieve interoperability

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This is Part 5 in a series of articles in which contributor Stacy Baird presents and in-depth analysis of the role of governments in standards setting initiatives which is released on a bi-weekly basis. For previous instalments see here: Part 3, Part 4 – Editor

PART 5 – Not Hot, nor Cold, but Just Right… (or “Not Formal, Not Informal, but Drawing on the Best of What Came Before”): Consortia

I have been discussing the sophistication of the IT industry in setting standards as evidenced by the industry’s long history and considerable use of formal (SDO) and informal means such as patent pools. In between SDOs and patent pools resides a more recent concept commonly used by the IT industry, a truly flexible approach to standards development – where the relevant industries or businesses develop and support a standard by mutual agreement through a consortium.

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I will start first by saying in what role I make this contribution, which is in a personal capacity. I handle ICT standardisation and technology issues for the UK Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) – the ministry responsible for standardisation policy for the UK. As part of this I am a board member of ETSI and DVB. I am also a member of the Commission ICT standards steering group, and the steering group for the Commission IPR in standards study. These roles inform what I outline below, but are not statements on behalf of any of these organisations or groups.

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