Fork to gnuStandards if the W3C hurts the web

My 2c.

I suspect that if the W3C permits the creation of RAND-based recommendations
(standards) then the open source community will have to set up an
alternative solution.

I don't know what that solution will be, but unfortunately it will have to
be created.  In the long run, the healthier open standards will win out
because it will be supported by the open source projects and developers -
we'll be able to program with these gnuStandards (as I like to call it)
without fear of paying anyone.

This patent issue is just simply out of hand - consider these three patents:
* Someone else in this list showed how Apple had patented a math calculation
(SVGA)
* Australians have patented YOUR telephone number (you now owe them money)
http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/2001/10/04/FFX0PGT0CSC.html
* Parts of the human genome were patented... hello?  Someone patented genes
which have been around for 100 million years?

I have it on good authority that Microsoft has the patents to CSS and
XSLT... can you imagine if they ask us all to pay up for our usage?  Good
lord!!

Do you see how ridiculous this patent situation is?  We must cut it off now
and let's have the W3C ONLY support RAND-free standards.  The patent policy
must establish IF there is a patent (as it does suggest it will do) and if
there IS a patent then the standard (recommendation) must be abandoned.
Build the web out of free software for the sake of future generations.

If the W3C won't, then we'll do something else about it and here's a
suggestion: in programming circles there is a term called "forking" where
you cut the code into two copies, one is then intended to stop where it is
and the other to grow in a different direction.

Open standards may need to be "forked" away from the W3C, leaving them to
care take for their paying customers.  We'll wait to see what they do.  We
won't have to wait long.

We're covering the whole saga closely (and fairly) on our front page:
http://www.topxml.com

Thanks,
Mark Wilson.


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Received on Thursday, 4 October 2001 19:13:18 UTC