[ietf-dkim] basic question

[Douglas Otis]

On Jan 17, 2007, at 9:06 AM, Dave Crocker wrote:

> DKIM is not 'in a state of flux'.

DKIM's restrictions on linking signatures with a header was premised  
upon an expectation that visual examination of headers provided a  
means for recognition.   When the entire email-address is expressed  
in UTF-8 (SMTP is in a state of flux), DKIM verifiers may be unable  
to handle domain conversions from UTF-8.  Will a header display the  
UTF-8 version of the email-address while the DKIM verification checks  
what might be an ACE label form of the email-address?  Will DKIM  
require regressive substitutions of headers in an effort to restore a  
signature, or will this represent a high failure rate for DKIM signed  
messages?  Will DKIM require extensive exchanges of private-keys or  
zone delegations as the _only_ method of overcoming the linkage  
restriction where email-address domains must be within signing  
domains?  While DKIM may not be in a state of flux, SMTP is.  The  
premise used to instantiate  restrictions on the identity on who's  
behalf the signature was added remains flawed and increasingly so.

-Doug