[tz] ICANN News Alert - ICANN to Manage Time Zone Database

dr.hingston dr.hingston at paradise.net.nz
Sat Oct 15 04:55:45 UTC 2011


I don't think this has been notified to the list?

On 30 September Astrolabe Inc filed action for alleged copyright
infringement against the voluntary maintainers of the TZ database.
Details at:
www.scribd.com/doc/67760407/ASTROLABE-INC-Vs-ARTHUR-DAVID-OLSON-and-PAUL-EGG
ERT-Complaint

ICANN has just released the following statement at:
www.icann.org/en/news/releases/release-14oct11-en.pdf

ICANN to Manage Time Zone Database

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) today
took over operation of an Internet Time Zone Database that is used by a
number of major computer systems.

ICANN agreed to manage the database after receiving a request from the
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).

The database contains time zone code and data that computer programs and
operating systems such as Unix, Linux, Java, and Oracle rely on to
determine the correct time for a given location. Modifications to the
database occur frequently throughout the year.

"The time zone database is used by a large number of commercial
operating systems and the software applications," said Russ Housely,
chairman of the IETF. "Incorrect time zone information will impact many
everyday activities, including meeting and conference call coordination,
airplane and train schedules, physical package delivery notices, and
astronomical observatories."

For nearly three decades, the TZ Database had been maintained by a group
of dedicated volunteers, in particular, Arthur David Olson at the US
National Institutes of Health. Olson coordinated the group, managed the
data, and created a platform for their release. Olson's announced
retirement prompted the IETF to turn to ICANN to ensure continued
operation of the database.

"The Time Zone Database provides an essential service on the Internet
and keeping it operational falls within ICANN's mission of maintaining a
stable and dependable Internet," said Akram Atallah, ICANN's Chief
Operating Officer.
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