Every child knows the paper format "DIN A4". The "DIN EN ISO 11664-4" (the former DIN 6174) describes the CIELAB colour space, an important part of our work. These are just two examples of the thousands of standards that the German Institute for Standardisation (DIN) publishes and administers, and with which we all have to deal on a daily basis.
The German Institute for Standardisation e.V. celebrated its 100th birthday in 2017. It is fair to say that standardisation has since had a beneficial effect on the lives of all market participants (or rather almost all: except for that of a previous monopolist) through more rational production, compatibility, comparability, falling prices.
"DIN is the independent platform for standardisation in Germany and worldwide", is how DIN defines its tasks on its website today. Two excerpts from the statutes:
The task (purpose) of DIN is to initiate, organise, control and moderate standardisation and standardisation for the benefit of the general public while safeguarding the public interest in orderly and transparent procedures. The work results serve innovation, safety and understanding in business, science, administration and the public as well as quality assurance and rationalisation and occupational, environmental and consumer protection. The results of the work are published and their application is promoted. (...)
As a technical-scientific association, DIN promotes science and research and exclusively and directly pursues charitable purposes within the meaning of the section "Tax-privileged purposes" of the German Tax Code. DIN operates selflessly. It does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes. DIN may only use its funds for purposes in accordance with its statutes. DIN may not favour any person by means of expenditure which is alien to the purposes of DIN or by means of disproportionately high remuneration. Members shall not receive any benefits from the funds of the corporation.
We are happy to endorse this transparently presented objective, which is oriented towards the common good. In our view, there is a lack of meaningful (freely calculable and open) standardisation from a neutral body (not primarily interested in self-interest), especially in the colour sector.
Therefore, we have joined DIN e.V. as a member. A first project in this context is the development of the DIN SPEC "Open Colour Communication" (see Blog entry). We are looking forward to working together - let's see what all comes of it.
