To: jcurran@nic.near.net
In-Reply-To: jcurran@nic.near.net's message of Mon, 13 Sep 1993 03:08:34 -0700 <93Sep13.030852pdt.2797@golden.parc.xerox.com>
Subject: Re: URL/URN Implementation Status (query)
From: Larry Masinter <masinter@parc.xerox.com>
Message-Id: <93Sep14.054816pdt.2794@golden.parc.xerox.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Sep 1993 05:48:02 PDT
I don't think we've solved the fundamental problems of who and how
will URN -> URL translation service be offered, or the fundamental
question of whether URNs can point to mutable objects, immutable ones,
or whether there are two kinds.
(I.e., can the referent of a URN change depending on who you are,
where you access it from, or when you access.)
People have set out various ideas and position statements, but there
doesn't seem to be a mechanism for arriving at consensus, partly
(IMHO) because there isn't an obvious 'right' answer, and every design
choice has some advantages and disadvantages.