From what I can see (and see the stats in my post above) it *is* entirely a US vendor initiative. Doubtless with broad support from users, but seeing as vendors can already produce an iCONECT load file, a Concordance load file, a Summation load file, an Introspect load file, a Ringtail load file, and so on, the main value I can see at the moment (and, I stress, without detailed thought from me) is shared output to multiple parties who are instructing the same vendor. What the LiST Protocol seeks to do is to allow iCONECT, Concordance, Summation, Introspect and Ringtail users to exchange their disclosure documents and data in a standard format that each would be able to produce and digest without any further intervention. It would be great if the vendors wrote their own LiST-compliant input and output filters sooner rather than later as this is an area where a great deal of time is wasted and client cost incurred, pretty much unneccessarily in this day and age. As for all LiST publications, comment has been sought (and received) from users and vendors in the UK, America, Canada, Australia and, doubtless, elsewhere. It is becoming clearer to me that the this XML standard and the LiST Protocol have entirely different angles and entry points and can live in peaceful co-existence.