- From: Tyler R Holcomb <tylerh@alumni.caltech.edu>
- Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2001 09:24:18 -0700
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Dear W3C Patent Policy Working Group: The internet has thrived on open standards. After all, the Web itself started with a physicist who wanted to be able to check his email. Going forward, we must maintain open, non-discriminatory access to all W3C standards -- risk putting the internet through the same nightmare Uni*x went through. In particular, I object to the inclusion of a "reasonable and non-discriminatory" (RAND) licensing option in the proposed policy. I believe that the exclusive use of a "royalty-free" (RF) licensing model is in the best interests of the Internet community, and that RAND licensing would always necessarily exclude some would-be implementors, especially among open source and free software developers. I applaud the W3C for its tradition of providing open-source reference implementations and its work to promote a wide variety of interoperable implementations of its open standards. The W3C can best continue its work of "leading the Web to its full potential" by continuing this tradition, and saying no to RAND licensing. Do we really want to repeat the Rambus experience, were a single patent holder is trying extort an entire industry, or do we keep with what has worked so well? Sincerely, tyler holcomb 2 witherspoon Irvine, CA 92614
Received on Saturday, 6 October 2001 12:24:27 UTC