RE: [xml-dev] Element equivalence under XML Namespaces

["Michael Kay" <mike@saxonica.com>]

> Well I suppose as follows:
> 
> a reserved name is reserved for usage by the W3C.
> If it is a reserved name that is in use then it has a W3C 
> determined meaning.
> If it is a reserved name that is not in use then to use it is 
> incorrect - but it does not have a W3C determined meaning.

The XML specification does not actually say what processors should do when
they encounter a name that is "reserved for standardization", but the
consensus is that it is not an error to use such a name and therefore they
should at most give a warning. If the name has been given a meaning in
specification Z and the processor is implementing specification Z then of
course it should do what Z says. If it has been given a meaning in
specification Z and the processor is *not* implementing specification Z then
the name should be treated as if it hasn't been given a meaning at all
(though the case for a warning is rather stronger, assuming of course that
specification Z was around when the processor was written).

Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/