- From: cfb@sol.usc.edu <cfb@usc.edu>
- Date: Mon, 8 Oct 2001 20:44:54 -0700
- To: <www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org>
First I would like to state that this is the first time I have ever
written in about something like this. From your own web page at
http://www.w3.org/Status you state that,
The natural complement to W3C specifications is running code.
Implementation and testing is an essential part of specification
development and releasing the code promotes exchange of ideas in the
developer community. All W3C software is Open Source/ Free
Software, and GPL compatible. See the license for details (and the following
if you intent to contribute). Note that as this license is GPL compatible,
it is possible to redistribute software based on W3C sources under a GPL
license.
If you make the changes you are proposing to the licensing agreement for
standards then you will be forced to stop using a GPL compatible license.
The GPL does not provide any mechanism for collecting royalties. If user and
developers are forced to pay royalties for using "standards" then you have
automatically made it impossible for any of your standards to be used in
Free Software of any kind. Please reconsider the path you are about to take
the Internet down.
Chet Burgess
Received on Monday, 8 October 2001 23:44:28 UTC