RWS@ZERMATT.LCS.MIT.EDU (Robert Scheifler) (10/22/87)
I am delighted to announce that MIT has finalized plans for the formation of "The MIT X Consortium", an industrially-sponsored Consortium to support the further development of the X Window System. Membership in the Consortium is open to any organization; in addition to major hardware vendors, we encourage participation by "end-user" organizations, software vendors, universities, etc. A two-tier membership and fee structure exists to accomodate both large and small organizations. It is intended that major enhancements to X will take place by forming interest groups among the participating organizations. Much of the design and implementation work will be carried out by the members, in conjunction with MIT staff. Participation in the overall design process will be open to non-members through periodic public review. The Consortium will be devoted to research and development; it will not be in the business of proposing (inter)national standards. Various privileges will be afforded to members, such as direct participation in design efforts, alpha and beta test of software, and direct access to sources and bug reports. However, MIT will continue to allow unrestricted use and redistribution of all finished software and documentation produced under the auspices of the Consortium. Through the Consortium, MIT will continue to provide public releases, to sponsor an annual public conference, and to provide public mailing lists for reporting problems, suggesting additions and changes, and discussing technical matters. The Consortium will be chartered initially for a three year period, beginning January 1, 1988. If you believe your organization should be interested in the Consortium, please bring this to the attention of the appropriate senior people, and have one of them contact the Director of the Consortium for details: Bob Scheifler MIT Laboratory for Computer Science 545 Technology Square Cambridge, MA 02139 617-253-0628 rws@zermatt.lcs.mit.edu