FinOps FOCUS Project – Meeting Minutes & Reports

This repository provides a centralized and accessible location for all meeting materials related to the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS) Project. It includes up-to-date agendas, approved minutes, task force documentation, working group calendars, and links to supporting GitHub resources.

Whether you're a contributor, stakeholder, or new participant, use the sections below to find key information about FOCUS groups, governance processes, upcoming meetings, and historical archives.

Important Notice:
While meeting minutes are not considered confidential, the content in this repository is intended solely for use by FOCUS Project participants. Information contained herein must not be disclosed or shared outside of the FOCUS membership without the express consent of the FOCUS Steering Committee.

FOCUS Groups

General Information

FOCUS Meeting Groups Calendars

Archive Information

Consensus Process

At these meetings, we will seek consensus on the PRs listed for approval. For each PR, we will:

• Provide a brief overview of the changes
• Ask for comments or clarifications
• Ask for OBJECTIONS to approve the PR
  • If no objections are received, then ask for ABSTENTIONS (note any)
  • Declare the PR APPROVED (add a note to the PR)
• If an OBJECTION is received, the PR will be moved to Work in Progress without further discussion at this meeting.

Achieving consensus in standards development requires a pragmatic approach rooted in collective progress. While certain features or suggestions may seem necessary to individuals, it is crucial to recognize that moving forward as a group often means letting go of elements that, while valued by some, are not critical to the overall integrity of the standard. This pragmatism helps avoid unnecessary controversy and ensures the focus remains on the essential aspects that drive interoperability, security, and long-term value, allowing the standard to remain robust and adaptable without being watered down by less critical details.

Consensus in standards development often means approving the minimum common denominator that keeps everyone equally dissatisfied but moves the group forward.

Consistency Review

In standards jargon, a Consistency Review is a designated period where members are encouraged to review a specific version of the specification and provide feedback. The review comments can be formalized as new Issues or Pull Requests, which the group will review and approve.

IPR Review

The IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) Review is a critical process typically lasting 30 days. During this period, the documentation and specifications developed by a standards body are scrutinized for potential intellectual property conflicts. This review period allows companies and other stakeholders involved in developing the standard to ensure that the specifications do not inadvertently infringe on existing patents.

During this time, participants have the option to issue an Exclusion Notice. This notice excludes certain patents from the final Specifications. By doing so, a company can protect its patents from becoming part of the open licensing commitment often accompanying standardized technologies and frameworks. This process allows companies to control their proprietary technologies while still participating in the standard development process.

The IPR Review is essential for maintaining the integrity and legality of new standards, ensuring they can be adopted widely without infringing on existing intellectual property rights. The IPR Review will last 30 days, starting with the closure of the Consistency Review. Here is the form to complete to write an Exclusion Notice.

Antitrust Notice

FOCUS (as part of FinOps Foundation, JDF/LF project) meetings involve participation by industry competitors, and it is the intention of the FOCUS to conduct all of its activities in accordance with applicable antitrust and competition laws. It is therefore extremely important that attendees adhere to meeting agendas, and be aware of, and not participate in, any activities that are prohibited under applicable US state, federal or foreign antitrust and competition laws.

Examples of types of actions that are prohibited at FOCUS meetings and in connection with Linux Foundation activities are described in the Linux Foundation Antitrust Policy available at http://www.linuxfoundation.org/antitrust-policy. If you have questions about these matters, please contact your company counsel, or if you are a member of the Linux Foundation, feel free to contact Andrew Updegrove of the firm of Gesmer Updegrove LLP, which provides legal counsel to the Linux Foundation.

Code of Conduct

Please refer to the Code of Conduct document.