- From: Michael Atkins <mikescastle@hotmail.com>
- Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001 09:13:59 -0500
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
I am writing in opposition to the suggestion of incorporating patented technologies into W3C standards. In responding to previous comments, W3C has cited similar allowances within standards written by other organizations. This was done with no evidence that said allowanced actually resulted in any beneficial use of patented technologies. I would challenge W3C to work around patents, not incorporate them. Even more, why not explicitly state that W3C will seek ways to accomplish standards' objectives WITHOUT incorporating patented technologies. In so doing, W3C may disincentivize the patenting of trivial innovation so that more broad-based acceptance by the developer community may occur. Otherwise, the W3C risks alienating entire segments of the developer community and the appearance of "patent-free" competing standards. The RAND policy has been protrayed in a rather trivial since within the proposal in my opinion. I doubt sincerely that the W3C wishes to insert itself into arbitration procedings to determine what, in a development situation, is "reasonable". Rather than make standards adoption easier and innovation more widely implemented, much time and energy will be spent on licensing and fair use disputes inevitably arising from this policy. Please reconsider this policy. I would encourage you to not only scrap this policy, but also to adopt one that is 180 degrees in nature. If the W3C finds it necessary to address the issue of patented technology, please join developers in saying "no". Leave the decision of incorporating patented technology to the individual developer. Thank you, Michael Atkins Nashville, TN, USA _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
Received on Tuesday, 2 October 2001 10:14:35 UTC