I don't know whether to ask questions or come over and shake your hands, but I can say that it's a privilege to be able to ask the first question, and in doing so, compliment and congratulate you all for the voracity with which you pursued a voluntary agreement. I remember speaking in the House in the spring, urging that you pursue that voluntary agreement, get it done, and get it done in time, and you were able to achieve that.
I also want to acknowledge the preference for an agreement over legislation, which, I agree with Mr. Finch, is costly, intrusive, and burdensome in interpretation and maintenance. Where people can voluntarily agree to things, it is always preferable to legislation.
I think there is always recognition of that delicate balance between consumer rights and a manufacturer's right to intellectual property, and you seem to have achieved that. At the same time, I think we should acknowledge all those quiet intervenors around the table who I think helped you, or beat you, into an agreement--I'm not sure which.
That said, I still feel that I have some due diligence to undertake here, and I have three short questions.
Firstly, if AIA does not ultimately join this agreement, will that change anything? I know they're not currently signatories. So perhaps David Adams can answer that.
Secondly, section IX, on page 15 of the CASIS agreement, talks about providing 60 days' written notice and 30 days to discuss that party's intent to terminate. What happens if AIA does become party to the agreement, or not, or if any one of you, with your many acronyms, decide that you're going to terminate? Does that mean the whole agreement fails, or is it possible that the agreement can survive, notwithstanding that one party decides to pull out? Frankly, I'd hate for an organization that's currently a party or becomes a party to say, “Now we've changed our minds; six months have gone by and we want out,” and everything fails.
My third question is to whoever wishes to answer—and please, I do want an answer.
The agreement says it will be in force upon signing. However, each individual OEM has until no later than May 1, 2010, to implement the terms and commitments contained therein. So I'd like one of you to tell me, what have you undertaken at this point to make sure that you meet that deadline of May 1, 2010?
Those are my three questions, and David, you may want to go first.