July 26, 2024
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Unified EFI Forum, Inc. (UEFI) is a nonprofit member association that advances innovation in firmware technology standards through extensible, globally-adopted specifications that bring new functionality and enhanced security to the evolution of devices, firmware and operating systems.
UEFI has become aware that various technology-related public bids in at least one sovereign nation have included compatibility with certain UEFI specifications as a requirement. Several of these bids have further required that the bidder demonstrate such compatibility through UEFI Promoter membership status. UEFI Promoter membership status is not required for technical compliance with UEFI specifications. Accordingly, this official UEFI statement is intended to assure all interested parties, including any public authority, that there are no technological differences between the rights and benefits of UEFI’s Promoter and Contributor membership classes. In fact, all UEFI members, including Adopter members, enjoy the same access to resources to enable compatibility with UEFI specifications.
UEFI, as an international standards development organization, is dedicated to upholding the principles of openness, balanced interests, consensus, and due process that define a voluntary consensus body. UEFI encourages the widespread adoption of its specifications through its Adopters Membership – a no-fee membership class that provides access to and a license to implement any of its published specifications. Adopter members, as well as Contributor and Promoter members, have access to identical materials and resources with regards to implementation and compatibility with UEFI specifications. It is also important to highlight that Adopters are entitled to remain in the association indefinitely, without having to pay fees, and enjoy continued access to the material and resources throughout that time. Accordingly, compatibility with UEFI specifications is equally demonstrated by any level of UEFI membership (Adopter, Contributor or Promoter).
Adopter members that are also interested in participating in the development of specifications can choose to become Contributor members, subject to the payment of a fee. Contributor members are welcome to participate in any working groups and have the same access to all draft specifications and UEFI technical activities as Promoter members. UEFI treats its Promoter and Contributor members the same with respect to technical development. Likewise, former UEFI Promoter and Contributor members have the same intellectual property commitments and rights after termination of their membership. The distinction between those membership class relates to the corporate governance of UEFI – most notably, the right of Promoter Members to appoint a director to the board of UEFI. Those individual directors are required by law to act in the best interest of UEFI, and not of their employer. This means that additional role is not intended to advance the specific interests of any specific Promoter Member company and does not place such Promoter Members at a technological advantage.
As such, we confirm that, from a specification compatibility perspective, there is absolutely no reason to distinguish between UEFI member classes. In fact, all UEFI members, including Adopter members, have access to the same UEFI specification implementation resources. This membership structure deliberately enables all implementations of UEFI specifications to reach the same standards of quality, regardless of membership class, so that all members are treated in a substantially equivalent manner with regards to technical compliance.
We hope this statement clears up any confusion about UEFI’s membership classes and can be a relevant source of information and clarification for future bids. Please let us know if you have any remaining questions or concerns.
Best regards,
Mark Doran
President, Unified EFI Forum, Inc.