W3C Patent Policy Recommendations

I note with dismay that it is proposed to allow proprietary standards,
requiring payment of royalties, to be made into W3C standards.

I understand that the proposal:

1. has been produced by a small group of big businesses with 
no representation of ordinary web users

2. will effectively make it impossible for Free Software to implement
web standards approved under such terms

3. was given inadequate publicity given the fundamental nature of the
change to W3C standards it proposes.

I urge the W3C to extend the consultation period and take note of the
objections which have been raised.


Roderick Tye
rdtye@iee.org

Received on Monday, 1 October 2001 15:29:51 UTC