August 2003 Public Policy Computer Graphics Column

Changes in the SIGGRAPH Public Policy Program

Bob Ellis
August 2003

SIGGRAPH has an excellent tradition of volunteers not doing the same job for too long. Elected positions have term limits and most appointed and committee positions have a healthy volunteer turnover. I've chaired the Public Policy Program since its beginning about seven years ago and it's time for a change.

We've been looking for someone to take over the position, perhaps starting out as co-chair, for a couple of years but as of this writing (April 2003), we haven't found anyone. I'm disappointed, but not surprised. There are two difficulties: most people are not in a position where technology policy activities are a help in their career and there's considerable specialized knowledge that's required. Therefore, I plan to resign as Chair of SIGGRAPH's Public Policy Program at the time of the conference in San Diego.

However, I do not plan to abandon my interest and activities in technology policy entirely. I will continue as a member of ACM's US Policy Committee (USACM) and perhaps even make more contributions there. USACM has the advantage of having a staffed Washington office.

There is also the workload; it's beginning to interfere with my retirement! When we started having events at the conference the amount of work increased significantly. I also significantly underestimated the reading required. In November 2001, I started an electronic bibliography of the technology policy articles I've read. Currently there are over 2,000 entries, although there is some duplication because I frequently file an article in more than one place. This is an average of at least 3 per day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year! Add in the job of the quarterly column, watching over the website, maintaining the bibliography, organizing a BOF and my USACM work it has become a big job.

I've had some great help from Myles Losch, Laurie Reinhart and David Richard Nelson. Plus the guidance of folks like Jim Foley, Oscar Garcia, Mike McGrath, Mike Zyda, Judy Brown, Steve Cunningham and all the contributors to the column, panel and courses.

Policy Events at the San Diego Conference

Bob Ellis
August 2003

If you are reading this at the conference please consider attending some of our policy events. The first is an update of last year's highly successful tutorial, Intellectual Property, Copyright and Digital Rights Management for Computer Graphics. It will again be presented by Dan Burk and Barbara Simons. The tutorial will be held 10:30 to 12:15 on Monday, 28 July 2003. Please see the conference program for the exact location.

Immediately following the tutorial we will hold our annual Policy BOF in Room 24A of the San Diego Convention Center. Both the tutorial speakers plan to be present insuring another lively and interesting session. The BOF will run from 12:30 to 3:00.