The OASIS CGM Open Member Section works to make Web graphics standards easy to adopt and practical to use in real world, open systems applications. CGM Open began its affiliation with OASIS in 1999.

"When we formed our organization, we patterned our operations on the OASIS by-laws and open process, so becoming an OASIS Member Section was an easy transition for us. Today, we maintain control over our technical agenda and our budget. We use our Member Section funds to contract a program manager who coordinates a lot of the 'heavy lifting' that keeps us on track. OASIS gives us the support we need to focus on our mission and not on the administrative, day-to-day operations of running an organization."

--Dieter Weidenbrueck of PTC, chair of the OASIS CGM Open Steering Committee

The OASIS eGovernment Member Section (eGov MS) serves as a focal point for discussions of governmental and public administration requirements for e-business standardization.

The OASIS Emergency Interoperability (EI) Member Section accelerates the development, adoption, application, and implementation of emergency interoperability and communications standards and related work.

The OASIS Identity and Trusted Infrastructure (IDtrust) Member Section promotes greater understanding and adoption of standards-based identity and trusted infrastructure technologies, policies, and practices. It was formed in 2003 when the PKI Forum reorganized within OASIS. The group broadened its scope in 2007 under the new name of IDtrust.

"We operated as an independent organization for four years before becoming an OASIS Member Section. Many of our original members were employed by companies that were already involved in OASIS, so joint membership offered a tremendous savings in dues and legal reviews of IPR policies and membership agreements. Still, the main reason we came to OASIS was because it was the nexus for important Web services security standards. As an OASIS Member Section, we have an inside track. We learn from and educate other people working on related standards, such as SAML, WS-Security, and XACML. The connections we have here are invaluable."

--June Leung, chair of the OASIS IDtrust Steering Committee

The OASIS LegalXML Member Section unites legal and technical experts in a common forum to create standards for the electronic exchange of legal data. It was formed in 2002, when LegalXML reorganized within OASIS.

"The OASIS technical process provides a framework for government agencies, vendors, lawyers, and technicians to develop standards that provide not only the technical underpinnings of electronic legal applications, but also to take into account the traditional working environments that are affected and the needs of professionals as they embrace new disciplines such as e-discovery. Being a part of OASIS also enables LegalXML to draw upon the talent of the many OASIS technical committees whose varied works span a host of disciplines, requirements, and needs."

--John Messing of the American Bar Association, chair of the OASIS LegalXML Steering Committee

The OASIS Open Composite Services Architecture (CSA) Member Section advances open standards that simplify SOA application development. This group oversees the further development and adoption of the Service Component Architecture (SCA) and Service Data Objects (SDO) families of specifications. This work began as a private effort by a group of vendors, the Open SOA collaboration, and was contributed to OASIS in 2007.

"The Open SOA collaboration, a highly cooperative group of vendors, successfully jump-started the SCA and SDO specifications. From the outset, our intention was to open up that work to the entire community and hand over the work to a well-respected open standards body. As the group completed the incubation phase of the specifications, that is exactly what we did. Open CSA allows our work to benefit from a broader range of input and from association with the OASIS reputation for neutrality and inclusiveness."

--Jeff Mischkinsky of Oracle, chair of the OASIS Open CSA Steering Committee

The OASIS Telecommunications Services Member Section (OASIS Telecom) is an open, active community committed to bringing the full advantages of SOA to the telecommunications industry.

For more information on OASIS Member Sections, contact member-services@oasis-open.org.