CINXE.COM
External contributions | Policies & legal information | W3C
<!doctype html> <html dir="ltr" lang="en" class="no-js"> <head> <title>External contributions | Policies & legal information | W3C</title> <meta charset="utf-8"/> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta name="description" content=" This page describes how external contributions to W3C web standards work are governed."/> <meta name="thumbnail" content="https://www.w3.org/assets/website-2021/images/w3c-opengraph-image.png"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.w3.org/policies/external-contributions/"/> <meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta property="og:title" content="External contributions"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.w3.org/assets/website-2021/images/w3c-opengraph-image.png"/> <meta property="og:image:width" content="1200"/> <meta property="og:image:height" content="630"/> <meta property="og:description" content=" This page describes how external contributions to W3C web standards work are governed."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="W3C"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="w3c"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.w3.org/policies/external-contributions/"/> <meta name="twitter:title" content="External contributions"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content=" This page describes how external contributions to W3C web standards work are governed."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.w3.org/assets/website-2021/images/w3c-opengraph-image.png"/> <link rel="home" href="https://www.w3.org/"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/website-2021/styles/core.css?ver=1.4" media="screen"/> <!-- CSS Mustard Cut Print (Edge doesn't apply to print otherwise) Edge, Chrome 39+, Opera 26+, Safari 9+, iOS 9+, Android ~5+, Android UCBrowser ~11.8+ FF 47+ --> <link rel="stylesheet" id="advanced-stylesheet" href="/assets/website-2021/styles/advanced.css?ver=1.4" media=" only print, only all and (pointer: fine), only all and (pointer: coarse), only all and (pointer: none), only all and (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio:0) and (display-mode:browser), (min--moz-device-pixel-ratio:0) and (display-mode:fullscreen) "> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/assets/website-2021/styles/print.css" media="print"/> <script src="/assets/website-2021/js/libraries/fontfaceobserver.js"></script> <script> var myFont = new FontFaceObserver('Noto Sans'); Promise.all([myFont.load()]).then(function () { document.documentElement.className += " fonts-loaded"; }); (function () { var linkEl = document.getElementById('advanced-stylesheet'); if (window.matchMedia && window.matchMedia(linkEl.media).matches) { var script = document.createElement('script'); script.src = '/assets/website-2021/js/main.js?ver=1.4'; script.defer = true; document.querySelector('head').appendChild(script); (function (H) { H.className = H.className.replace(/\bno-js\b/, 'js') })(document.documentElement); } })(); </script> </head> <body class="default"> <a class="skip-link" href="#main">Skip to content</a> <div class="grid-wrap"> <div class="wrap"> <header class="global-header"> <span role="status" aria-live="polite"></span> <nav id="lang-nav" aria-label="Language options"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="l-cluster"> <ul class="clean-list" role="list"> <li><a href="https://www.w3.org/ja/" hreflang="ja" lang="ja">日本語ホームページ<span class="visuallyhidden" lang="en">Japanese website</span></a></li> <li><a href="https://www.w3.org/zh-hans/" hreflang="zh-hans" lang="zh-hans">简体中文首页<span class="visuallyhidden" lang="en">Chinese website</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> <nav id="global-nav" aria-label="Main"> <div class="global-nav__inner l-center"> <a class="logo-link" href="https://www.w3.org/" hreflang="en"> <span class="logo"> <img src="https://www.w3.org/assets/logos/w3c/w3c-no-bars.svg" alt="W3C" role="img"/> </span> <span class="visuallyhidden">Visit the W3C homepage</span> </a> <button type="button" class="button button--ghost with-icon--after with-icon--larger" data-trigger="mobile-nav" style="display: none;"></button> <ul data-component="nav-double-intro"> <li class="top-nav-item has-children"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/standards/" class="nav-link">Standards</a> <div class="nav__submenu" data-nav="submenu" style="display: none;"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="nav__submenu__intro"> <h2 class="nav__submenu__intro__heading">Standards</h2> <div class="nav__submenu__intro__text"> <p>Understand the various specifications, their maturity levels on the web standards track, and their adoption.</p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/standards/">Explore web standards</a> </div> </div> <ul> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/standards/about/">About W3C web standards</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/TR/">W3C standards & drafts</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/standards/types/">Types of documents W3C publishes</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/translations/">Translations of W3C standards & drafts</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/standards/review/">Reviews & public feedback</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/liaisons/">Liaisons</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/get-involved/promote/">Promote web standards</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li class="top-nav-item has-children"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/groups/" class="nav-link">Groups</a> <div class="nav__submenu" data-nav="submenu" style="display: none;"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="nav__submenu__intro"> <h2 class="nav__submenu__intro__heading">Groups</h2> <div class="nav__submenu__intro__text"> <p>A variety of groups develop Web Standards, guidelines, or supporting materials.</p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/groups/">About W3C groups</a> </div> </div> <ul> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/groups/wg/">Working Groups</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/groups/ig/">Interest Groups</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/groups/cg/">Community Groups</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/groups/bg/">Business Groups</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/groups/other/tag/">Technical Architecture Group</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/invited-experts/">Invited Experts</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/guide/">Participant guidebook</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/positive-work-environment/">Positive work environment</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li class="top-nav-item has-children"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/get-involved/" class="nav-link">Get involved</a> <div class="nav__submenu" data-nav="submenu" style="display: none;"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="nav__submenu__intro"> <h2 class="nav__submenu__intro__heading">Get involved</h2> <div class="nav__submenu__intro__text"> <p>W3C works at the nexus of core technology, industry needs, and societal needs.</p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/get-involved/">Find ways to get involved</a> </div> </div> <ul> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/ecosystems/">Browse our work by industry</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/membership/">Become a Member</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/Member/">Member Home (restricted)</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/email/">Mailing lists</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/donate/">Make a donation</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/sponsor/">Sponsor an event</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li class="top-nav-item has-children"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/resources/" class="nav-link">Resources</a> <div class="nav__submenu" data-nav="submenu" style="display: none;"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="nav__submenu__intro"> <h2 class="nav__submenu__intro__heading">Resources</h2> <div class="nav__submenu__intro__text"> <p>Master Web fundamentals, use our developer tools, or contribute code.</p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/resources/">Learn from W3C resources</a> </div> </div> <ul> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/developers/">Developers</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/developers/tools/">Validators & tools</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/WAI/fundamentals/">Accessibility fundamentals</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/International/i18n-drafts/nav/about">Internationalization</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/translations/">Translations of W3C standards and drafts</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/policies/code-of-conduct/">Code of conduct</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/reports/">Reports</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li class="top-nav-item has-children"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/news-events/" class="nav-link">News & events</a> <div class="nav__submenu" data-nav="submenu" style="display: none;"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="nav__submenu__intro"> <h2 class="nav__submenu__intro__heading">News & events</h2> <div class="nav__submenu__intro__text"> <p>Recent content across news, blogs, press releases, media; upcoming events.</p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/news-events/">Follow news & events</a> </div> </div> <ul> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/news/">News</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/blog/">Blog</a> </li> <li class="break-after"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/press-releases/">Press releases</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/press-media/">Press & media</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/events/">Events</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/news-events/w3c-tpac/">Annual W3C Conference (TPAC)</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/policies/code-of-conduct/">Code of conduct</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li class="top-nav-item has-children"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/" class="nav-link">About</a> <div class="nav__submenu" data-nav="submenu" style="display: none;"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="nav__submenu__intro"> <h2 class="nav__submenu__intro__heading">About</h2> <div class="nav__submenu__intro__text"> <p>Understand our values and principles, learn our history, look into our policies, meet our people.</p> <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/">Find out more about us</a> </div> </div> <ul> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/mission/">Our mission</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/leadership/">Leadership</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/staff/">Staff</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/evangelists/">Evangelists</a> </li> <li class="break-after"> <a href="https://www.w3.org/careers/">Careers</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/diversity/">Diversity</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/corporation/">Corporation</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/sponsor/">Sponsoring W3C</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/press-media/">Media kit</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/contact/">Contact</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/policies/">Policies & legal information</a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.w3.org/help/">Help</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li class="top-nav-item"> <a hreflang="en" href="https://www.w3.org/help/search/" class="nav-link icon-link"> <img class="icon" src="https://www.w3.org/assets/website-2021/svg/search.svg" width="24" height="24" alt aria-hidden="true"><span class="hide-at-max-width">Search</span> </a> </li> <li class="top-nav-item"> <a hreflang="en" href="https://www.w3.org/users/myprofile/" id="account-login-link" class="account-login icon-link with-icon--after"> My account <span class="avatar avatar--small icon"> <img src="https://www.w3.org/assets/website-2021/svg/avatar.svg" width="24" height="24" alt aria-hidden="true"/> </span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> </header> <nav id="breadcrumb" aria-label="Breadcrumb"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="l-cluster"> <ol class="breadcrumbs clean-list" role="list"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/">Policies & legal information</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/external-contributions/" aria-current="page">External contributions</a></li> </ol> </div> </div> </nav> <main id="main" > <div class="content"> <article> <h1>External contributions</h1> <nav class="l-box l-box--no-border translations" aria-label="Translations"> <div class="l-sidebar"> <div> <div class="sidebar"> <span><span lange="en">Read this page in:</span></span> </div> <div class="not-sidebar"> <div class="l-cluster"> <ul class="clean-list translation-list"> <li> <a href="/zh-hans/policies/external-contributions/" hreflang="zh-Hans" lang="zh-Hans" dir="auto" > 中文(简体) </a> </li> <li> <a href="/ja/policies/external-contributions/" hreflang="ja" lang="ja" dir="auto" > 日本語 </a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> <div class="component component--text"> <p id="w3c_content_body">A W3C Working Group frequently finds itself in the position of receiving reviews and input from other parties who are not participants in the Working Group, including:</p><ul><li>Another W3C Working Group;</li><li>A meeting guest, including an observer during the Technical Plenary meeting;</li><li>The general public on a mailing list.</li></ul><p>Read the <a href="https://www.w3.org/2003/12/22-pp-faq.html#non-participants">patent policy FAQ</a> for information about licensing commitments from non-Members, and <a href="https://www.w3.org/policies/patent-policy/#sec-Requirements">RF licensing requirements</a>.</p><p>The W3C Group(s) Team Contact(s) manage(s) these contributions.</p><p><a class="button" href="https://www.w3.org/groups/">Find W3C groups and team contacts</a></p> </div> </article> <div class="related"> <nav class="related__inner" aria-labelledby="related-label"> <h2 id="related-label" class="txt-jupiter">In this section</h2> <ul class="clean-list" role="list"> <li><a href="/policies/antitrust-2017/">Antitrust and competition guidance - 2017 version</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/antitrust-2024/">Antitrust and competition policy - 2024 version</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/external-contributions/" aria-current="page">External contributions</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/external-funding/">External funding at W3C</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/logos/">Logos and icons</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/email/">Mailing list policies</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/no-nda/">Policy regarding Non-Disclosure Agreements and W3C meetings</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/privacy/">W3C privacy policy</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/uri-persistence/">URI persistence policy</a></li> <li><a href="/policies/conflict-of-interest-policy-for-w3c-team/">Conflict of Interest Policy for the W3C Team</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </main> </div> <footer class="global-footer"> <div class="l-center"> <div class="global-footer__links"> <div class="l-cluster"> <ul class="clean-list" role="list"> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/" hreflang="en"> <span lang="en" dir="ltr">Home</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/contact/" hreflang="en"> <span lang="en" dir="ltr">Contact</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/help/" hreflang="en"> <span lang="en" dir="ltr">Help</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/donate/" hreflang="en"> <span lang="en" dir="ltr">Donate</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/policies/" hreflang="en"> <span lang="en" dir="ltr">Legal & Policies</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.w3.org/about/corporation/" hreflang="en"> <span lang="en" dir="ltr">Corporation</span> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://status.w3.org/" hreflang="en"> <span lang="en" dir="ltr">System Status</span> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <ul class="clean-list" role="list"> <li><a class="with-icon--larger" href="https://w3c.social/@w3c" hreflang="en"> <img class="icon icon--larger" src="/assets/website-2021/svg/mastodon.svg" width="20" height="20" alt aria-hidden="true" loading="lazy"/> <span class="visuallyhidden"><span lang="en" dir="ltr">W3C on Mastodon</span></span></a> </li> <li><a class="with-icon--larger" href="https://github.com/w3c/" hreflang="en"> <img class="icon icon--larger" src="/assets/website-2021/svg/github.svg" width="20" height="20" alt aria-hidden="true" loading="lazy"/> <span class="visuallyhidden"><span lang="en" dir="ltr">W3C on GitHub</span></span></a> </li> </ul> </div> <p class="copyright"><span lang="en" dir="ltr">Copyright © 2024 <a href="https://www.w3.org/">World Wide Web Consortium</a>.<br> <abbr title="World Wide Web Consortium">W3C</abbr><sup>®</sup> <a href="https://www.w3.org/policies/#disclaimers">liability</a>, <a href="https://www.w3.org/policies/#trademarks">trademark</a> and <a rel="license" href="https://www.w3.org/copyright/document-license/" title="W3C Document License">permissive license</a> rules apply.</span></p> </div> </footer> </div> <script src="/assets/website-2021/js/translations-sorting.js"></script> </body> </html>