maintain free and open interoperability from P.J. Ponder on 2001-10-02 (www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org from October 2001)

From: P.J. Ponder <ponder@freenet.tlh.fl.us>
Date: Tue, 2 Oct 2001 12:10:37 -0400 (EDT)
To: <www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org>
Message-ID: <Pine.OSF.4.31.0110021202020.3567-100000@fn3.freenet.tlh.fl.us>

Allowing the inclusion of patented, and therefore restricted, standards as
W3C Recommendations will undermine the legitimacy of the W3C and will lead
the organization into irrelevancy.

Yes, software patents exist.  The fact that these patents exist does not
imply they must be condoned, supported, endorsed, or embraced by the W3C -
an organization whose existence is based on interoperable, free standards.

Patents are like taxes - and the power to tax is the power to destroy.

Stand up for what is right.  The W3C should represent the user community,
not corporate interests.  If the W3C can't see this, then it deserves to
wither and die.

Received on Tuesday, 2 October 2001 11:36:40 UTC