- From: Les Barstow <lbarstow@vr1.com>
- Date: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 15:16:34 -0600
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
I think some parts of the W3C realized a problem when confronted with the P3P process. However, the reaction is not the one that I'd wish. Given the recent trends in lawmaking (SSSSCA, DMCA, UCITA), allowing patents to enter into Web standards will lead to the schism many here fear. Open Standards and Open Source have been and continue to be the backbone of the Web architecture, and are increasingly also a method of Web access. Patent holders could refuse a license grant to Open Source players based on the method of distribution of Open Source. They could also use the DMCA and other laws to restrict the development of similar protocols which would compete with their product. The W3C needs to take the lead given by the AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) team and ensure that all patents related to standards approved by the W3C are licensed in perpetuity for free as a condition of acceptance as a standard. Additionally, such licenses should not be limited to Web access - a license which does not apply once content is downloaded, or which is created locally, is useless to the user. The W3C has been working for some time to shore up the schism between Netscape and Microsoft regarding HTML and CSS standards. It should not now take the opportunity to create a new schism between Open Source and commercial offerings by accepting patented works with license costs. -- Les Barstow | e-mail: lbarstow@vr1.com System Administrator | VR1, Inc. | http://www.vr1.com | Disclaimer: All your server are belong to us!
Received on Wednesday, 3 October 2001 17:16:41 UTC