- From: John Snippe <john@snippe.ca>
- Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 22:57:16 -0400
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Draft of a letter I will be sending to www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org regarding issues that can be further explained at http://www.zeldman.com and http://www.webstandards.org... thanks to Ken for this. ----- Just heard about the possibility being considered by the consortium to patent certain technologies pertaining to web content delivery. Whereas I am not familiar with the intricacies and nuances of this proposal, and am further unfamiliar with the workings of the consortium, I am quite uncomfortable with the idea that a further legislative/legal layer be overlaid the internet development process. This both from a historical perspective (the initial conceptualization of the web was for a free exchange medium) and from an enforcement/ jurisdictional point-of-view. My essential concern has to do with motivation: is this movement toward patenting taking place to protect the future of the internet as a (reasonably) unfettered medium of communication, and these patents will exist to protect free use, or is it to accrue benefit to commercial or other non-generalized interests? If the former, a compelling argument can indeed be made. If the latter, I suggest a significant rethinking is in order as to the purpose and place of the consortium, as it would then seem to be a less-than-impartial body. ----- Well... that is what I have so far ;) Gotta sleep. -- Later... JS
Received on Wednesday, 3 October 2001 23:03:53 UTC