National Chapters Policy

The National Chapters Policy promotes the further adoption of OpenID around the world. OpenID Chapters are officially part of the Foundation and work within their own constituency to support our mission. Please contact the Foundation to request more information at help@oidf.org.  The following National Chapters policy was approved by the Board of the OpenID Foundation (“OIDF”) on October 29, 2014.

National Chapters (or “Chapters”) are local, national or multi-national organizations in countries outside the United States of America and Canada that are independent of OIDF and have entered into an agreement with OIDF in accordance with this chapter policy. OIDF will list the currently registered Chapters on openid.net. Within the United States of America and Canada, OIDF assumes the role and responsibilities of a National Chapter.

The relationship between the OIDF and the National Chapters is a not-for-profit collaboration to promote OIDF technologies and lead community efforts at the local level. Apart from what is specifically agreed to, there are no mutual financial obligations between the parties.

National Chapters shall be registered at the OIDF. It is the sole discretion of the OIDF board to approve the registration of an organization as a Chapter. Organizations in countries where a Chapter is not registered may apply to the OIDF for recognition as a Chapter by sending an email to board@openid.net. In this email, the applicants must signify their agreement and document their ability to meet the terms of this policy, and supply: a) name of the organization, b) country in which the organization resides, c) the bylaws of the organization, d) contact information for the organizers, and e) the URL that the OIDF should use when listing the chapter.

Chapters may use the title “OpenID Foundation X” or “OpenID X” (where X denotes the name of the country) as their official name or alias. This right is forfeited with the termination of the agreement between OIDF and the Chapter.

Chapters will clearly inform their members and prospective members that membership in the Chapter does not grant them membership in the OIDF and will encourage their members to also join OIDF.

Sustaining Members of a Chapter that are also members of OIDF may choose to direct up to 60% of their OIDF membership dues to their Chapter. Chapters must agree and ensure that all activities funded by directed OIDF membership dues are in support of the OIDF mission statement and working areas. Directed membership dues from OIDF may not be used for other purposes than events open for international participation, interops, and protection of OIDF intellectual property rights without permission from OIDF. Directed membership dues shall not be used for normal administration or communication purposes, including website design and operation.

Chapters must exhibit regular activity and ensure that up-to-date information about OpenID technologies is available to their members and to other citizens and corporations within their country or countries. At least once a year and upon the request of OIDF, the Chapter must report to the OIDF on its activities. The report must include financial records documenting the use of the funding directed from the OIDF.

Chapters are being assigned a right and duty to act as an agent for trademark policing, and must be in a suitable legal form to fulfill this role. Chapters must agree that any intellectual property rights or trademarks developed or held by them within the scope of OIDF must either be freely transferred to OIDF, or licensed perpetually to OIDF under terms that allow OIDF to use them in whatever way it sees fit, including sublicensing to others under terms of its choosing. The one exception to this policy is that a Chapter may have a Chapter logo or mark that is only available to members of that Chapter, provided that that logo or mark does not infringe the OpenID trademark.

Chapters are free to maintain relationships and partnerships with other organizations, provided that the purpose and conduct of those relationships is consistent with this Chapter’s Policy.

OIDF and Chapters may both terminate their agreement with 90 days written notice.

If the OIDF alters this Chapters Policy it will notify all Chapters of the change. Following such notification, Chapters will have 90 days to apply for registration under the new terms. Failure to do so will result in termination of the contract without further notice. Termination of the agreement does not affect any intellectual property rights or trademarks fully or partly transferred to OIDF, or licensed to OIDF as a consequence of this policy. Unless otherwise documented, any such intellectual property shall be deemed to have been freely transferred to OIDF under the terms of the agreement.

OpenID Worldwide

NORTH AMERICA: For USA and Canada, please go directly to the OpenID Foundation (OIDF)official site.

ASIA & PACIFIC: Japan (OIDF-J)