Open Source Initiative to Give People More Control Over Their Personal
Online Information

IBM, Novell, and Parity Communications to Drive New Generation of
Security Software Based on Framework by Harvard Law's Berkman Center


ARMONK, NY -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 02/27/06 -- IBM, Novell and Parity
Communications today announced that they are contributing code to an
open source initiative -- code-named "Project Higgins" -- that will
spawn a new generation of security software, giving people more
control over their personal online identity information. Project
Higgins builds upon a concept developed by Harvard Law School's
Berkman Center for Internet & Society.


Project Higgins -- which is being managed by the Eclipse open source
foundation -- is developing software for "user-centric" identity
management, an emerging trend in security software. It enables
individuals to actively manage and control their online personal
information, such as bank account, telephone and credit card numbers,
or medical and employment records -- rather than institutions managing
that information as they do today. People will decide what information
they want shared with trusted online websites that use the software.


This is the first user-centric identity management effort to follow
the open source software model, where hundreds of thousands of
developers contribute -- and continually drive improvements through
collaborative innovation. Being an open source effort, Higgins will
support any computer running Linux, Windows or any operating system,
and will support any identity management system.


"To move online security to the next level, there has to be
fundamental resolve among consumers, government and business to
quickly adopt a system where the individual has more control over how
information about them is managed and shared," said John Clippinger,
Senior Fellow for The Berkman Center. "Our aim is to construct an open
and widely accessible software framework that puts the individual at
the center of the identity management universe. With this framework in
place, it will be easier for society to begin the migration to more
secure online environments, where trusted networks can not only be
easily formed, but effectively enforced. For in the end, security is
not just technological, but social."


Higgins will make it simple and secure for someone to change an
address across all their online accounts with a single keystroke;
delegate who can see what elements of their medical records; or change
a password across online banking and brokerage accounts. For example,
a person can grant their insurance company broad access to their
personal information and medical records, while at the same time
limiting the amount of data made available to their cable company. In
turn, businesses can create new channels of communication with
customers -- enabling information to be shared securely across
networks to deliver targeted, relevant products and services.


To spur swift adoption of Higgins by the broadest community of
software developers, IBM, Novell and Parity Communications are
contributing software code to Higgins, and will be joined by other
technology companies who are expected to participate in the project.
IBM plans to incorporate Higgins technology within its Tivoli identity
management software, with added support by independent software
vendors and IBM's consulting services division.


A new era of online services


Higgins breaks up a person's identity into pieces -- or "services" --
and lets computer users dictate who can access what parts of their
identity information, within applicable privacy guidelines and laws.
Organizations using "smart" applications, built with Higgins open
source tools, can share specific identity information, such as their
telephone number or buying preferences, according to rules set by the
individual, or by an authorized third-party service provider acting on
their behalf. Like Web services, companies will be able to build
support for Higgins into their applications, websites and services,
and its open approach will support any technology platform and
identity management system.


The project is named after the Tasmanian long-tailed Higgins mouse. It
reflects today's "long tail" of micro-markets that complement
traditional industries -- such as new markets revolving around online
auctions -- and the fact that those markets will benefit from greater
online collaboration.


Over the last two years, The Berkman Center has been engaged in
developing research papers and use cases on privacy and digital
governance.


"The Internet has changed the way consumers think about privacy, and
Higgins will help change the way people manage their personal identity
information," said Dale Olds, Distinguished Engineer at Novell.
"Ultimately this approach will give consumers greater control and
businesses powerful new ways to interact with their customers. We view
Higgins as an opportunity to combine Novell's leadership in identity
and security with the power of the open source community to address
some of today's toughest technological and ethical challenges."


Anthony Nadalin, Distinguished Engineer and Chief Security Architect,
IBM, added: "Identity management is the next frontier for open source
software. Open source ensures that there is easy access to the
technology, so that developers can innovate around it. It also means
that customers won't be locked into a proprietary architecture when
they adopt user-centric identity management systems."


More information about the Eclipse Higgins project can be found at
www.eclipse.org/higgins/


For a related audiocast about the announcement, go to:
http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/19280.wss


About IBM


IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80
years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. For more
information about IBM, visit www.ibm.com.


About The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School


The Berkman Center is a research program founded to explore
cyberspace, share in its study, and help pioneer its development. It
represents a network of faculty, students, fellows, entrepreneurs,
lawyers, and virtual architects working to identify and engage with
the challenges and opportunities of cyberspace. For more information,
visit http://cyber.law.harvard.edu


About Novell


Novell, Inc. (NASDAQ: NOVL) delivers Software for the Open
Enterprise(TM). With more than 50,000 customers in 43 countries,
Novell helps customers manage, simplify, secure and integrate their
technology environments by leveraging best-of-breed, open
standards-based software. With more than 20 years of experience, more
than 5,000 employees, 5,000 partners and support centers around the
world, Novell helps customers gain control over their IT operating
environment while reducing cost. For more information, visit
http://www.novell.com.


About Parity Communications


Parity Communications, Inc. is a start-up software company, based near
Boston. The company is working in a new field called Social Commerce
that is at the intersection of e-commerce, social networking, and
user-centric identity. For more information, visit.www.parityinc.net.


IBM and Tivoli are trademarks of International Business Machines
Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Novell is
a registered trademark and Software for the Open Enterprise is a
trademark of Novell, Inc., in the United States and other countries.
Other company, product or service names may be trademarks or service
marks of others.