Entrust (News - Alert) has withdrawn from the voluntary online security standards organization- CA/Browser Forum.

The company co-founded and co-chaired this organization for over six years but has decided to exit CA (News - Alert)/Browser Forum because of its new mandatory Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Policy Agreement.

According to the new IPR agreement, all member organizations have to provide other members a royalty-free (RF) license of their patents that touch on proposed standards.

“We understand why large certification authorities and browser developers are asking for free intellectual property, and we also realize why smaller vendors would like it for free,” said Entrust CEO and president Bill Conner. “We do not believe, however, that simply giving away intellectual property makes the SSL market safer. In fact, we’re of the strong opinion it does the exact opposite.”

Entrust provides organizations with SSL and specialty digital certificates that are proven, cost-effective and supported by standards-based technology. The company was identified by Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) as the number two provider of SSL digital certificates and services in the world, earlier this year.

Although Entrust has withdrawn from the CA/Browser Forum it will continue serving as a trusted CA for SSL digital certificates. The company will also keep on participating in browser-embedding programs.  

Entrust is not the only one to leave the CA/Browser Forum as a total of 18 member CAs have already left the organization.

“At a time when the SSL industry is under intense scrutiny, with many organizations being compromised by attacks, it is unconscionable that the CA/Browser Forum mandates new IP policy to further fragment the industry,” said Conner. “Entrust is a company that’s invested considerable resources to ensure the SSL fabric is secured at the highest level possible, which is directly reflected by the development of our intellectual property and our leadership footprint in the industry.”

Entrust was in news when its president and CEO Bill Conner hosted National Youth Science Camp (NYSC) luncheon in Washington, D.C. last month.

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