FW: Action Item from Advisory Committee Discussion on Patent Policy

Following the recent W3C Advisory Committee meeting, the Patent Policy
Working Group was given the following action item.

An action item to the PPWG:

We have heard a continuum of views about what the goal of our patent policy
should be: from an exclusively RF policy to one that prefers RF but allows
RAND. There is significant support for requiring that all W3C
Recommendations have RF licensing. There is also concern from a number of
Members that not all W3C Recommendations can be completed without RAND
licensing provisions.

Based on this input the PPWG should develop as a first priority a process
for producing RF Recommendations -- an RF Patent Policy. In recognition of
the fact that a number of Members do appear reluctant to abandon a RAND
track altogether, the PPWG will offer the AC further discussion of a RAND
track with responses to the  issues raised here and in the Last Call
commments supporting a RAND option.

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Note -- this does NOT mean that W3C has made final decision in favor of a
RF-only policy, nor does it mean that we have made a final determination
about the role RAND licensing will play. The final decision about W3C's
patent policy will be made after the PPWG has developed a new proposal, the
public has had another chance to comment, and the W3C membership has had
it's chance to express its views formally to the Director.


Daniel Weitzner, Chair
W3C Patent Policy Working Group

Received on Wednesday, 21 November 2001 16:17:27 UTC