Patent Policy comment

Hi:

I'm a professional web designer, both freelance and full-time with the
state of Minnesota.

This comment is a reflection of my personal opinion only.

I believe very strongly that the W3C should not recommend any policy that
allows holders of patents to charge a royalty for so-called "RAND"
technologies. One of the defining characteristics of the world wide web,
and one that has allowed it to become such an important medium, has been
its atmosphere of largely free and open exchange.

I am of the belief that specious patents have been awarded for some web
technologies, impairing the free and open web that is so important to many
of us. For example, Amazon.com's One-Click technology doesn't deserve a
patent, in my opinion... it represents a trivially unique application of
widely used web programming/design techniques. If a company like Amazon is
allowed to charge a royalty for the use of such a technology, I shudder to
think of the barriers to entry that would face web developers of the
future. [I'm not sure if this particular case applies to the policy under
consideration, but the principle is what's important.]

In general, I applaud the work of the W3C in its attempts to establish
standards for the web. I would like to see it go even further in convincing
web browser makers to adhere completely to W3C standards. Don't be a tool
of the industry; be a watchdog.

I hope you reconsider this policy. Thanks.


Jason L. Gohlke          available at {gohlkus@tcinternet.net}
                 appearing at {http://www.gohlkusmaximus.com/}
"If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly
   useless manner, you have learned how to live." - Lin Yutang

Received on Wednesday, 10 October 2001 12:55:54 UTC