- From: Charles Hixson <charleshixsn@earthlink.net>
- Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001 07:55:53 -0700
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
The acceptance of a patent in a "standard" invalidates the
standard, unless there are explicit terms that require that the
patent be freely licensed for all standard compliant issues.
A "standards organization" which promulgates patented
"standards" ceases forthwith the right to be called a standards
organization. Without excuses. Saying "other people do it"
isn't a valid excuse. There are no valid excuses.
To misuse the term "Open Source" to describe anything patented
should be grounds for being sued. I don't think that $1,000,000
per violation is excessive.
This has made me look with less favor on the companies that have
lent their name to this atrocity. E.g., Apple. I had been
thinking relatively good thoughts about it, and was considering
recommending an Apple computer to an acquaintance. Now I won't.
This is because of Apple's participation in this matter. I
intend to make a list of all parties participant in this list,
and put them on my 10% list (or, possibly, move them from the
10% list to the 20% list). This means that they must provice a
product that seems to be 10% (or 20%) better than the
competition before they will be considered for purchase. I had
a 30% list for awhile, but nobody on it ever qualified for
purchase, so I retitled it "plonk".
--
Charles Hixson
Copy software legally, the GNU way!
Use GNU software, and legally make and share copies of software.
See http://www.gnu.org
http://www.redhat.com
http://www.linux-mandrake.com
http://www.calderasystems.com/
http://www.linuxapps.com/
Received on Tuesday, 2 October 2001 10:56:55 UTC