Today in San Francisco, Microsoft Corp. and eBook pioneers NuvoMedia and SoftBook Press hosted the first review of a draft specification for electronic book devices. The specification is part of the Open eBook initiative that was announced at the world's first electronic book ("eBook") conference last October.

The purpose of the meeting was for members to review the draft specification, provide feedback, and discuss steps for moving forward to a final standard. The discussion was lively and members expressed their commitment to work together to develop a final standard that will achieve maximum adoption. The specification, whose full name is the Open eBook Publication Structure, defines the format for content that is converted from print to digital, eBook-ready form. Agreeing on one standard will allow publishers to reach a wide audience without separately reformatting their titles for each machine.

There was a diverse range of attendees at the meeting: tools vendors such as OverDrive Systems, J. Stream, and Versaware Technologies; publishers such as Franklin Electronic Publishers, Random House and HarperCollins; eBook pioneers Everybook, Librius, and Glassbook; printer R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co.; hardware manufacturers Hitachi, HP, Nokia, and Vadem; retailer Barnes and Noble; Modern Age Books; Adobe; and representatives from academia and research facilities such as Brown University and FX Palo Alto Lab.

Thursday's meeting was just the first gathering in an ongoing process. In fact, one purpose of the meeting was to lay the groundwork for an open specification review process so that members will have the opportunity to ask questions and comment on the specification as it evolves from first draft to final version. The group agreed on the following:

1. The formation of an expanded authoring group to move forward actively in the development of the specification. This group will work together frequently over the next two months. The group facilitator will be Victor McCrary, a Technical Manager at NIST.
2. The remaining members (those not in the authoring group) will act as reviewers. Additional people who sign the Evaluator's Agreement are welcome to become members.
3. There will be a members-only area of this Web site so that information, including an online version of the draft specification itself, can be shared more easily among members.
4. Another meeting will be held with all members in 60 days, hosted by R.R. Donnelley and Sons Co. in Chicago.
5. At the next meeting, the authoring group will report on their discussions and present any resolutions to all members.

To get information about how to receive a draft of the Open eBook Publication Structure specification, send an e-mail message with your contact information (Name, Title, Company, Street, City, State, ZIP, Country if outside U.S., E-mail Address and Phone Number) to all of the following people: