PATENTS & THE WORLD WIDE WEB

Dear Sirs

As a member of the public as well as a developer of applications over the
Internet where I am totally dependent on Open Standards for both
infrastructure (the Web) ,programming (XML) and operating systems (Linux), I
am convinced that W3C should not incorporate in their policies any
acceptance of patented software or tools of any description as this would
inhibit the invention, development or operation of any Open Standard
protocols through which the Internet was born and on which it now depends.

The use and value of a communications anf computing infrastructure such as
the Internet is  solely because it is a free and Open Standard and
incorporates the best of public communication and security protocols which
have been thoroughly tested and accepted as standards by all interested
parties who should not then profit from such standards but simply share in
it's full benefits.

If any person or organisation wants to make money from the Internet, then
they should patent and trademark only their application software. If these
applications are written for the Internet, they will then enjoy the free,
secure and assured Open Standard distribution, sales and operation of such
products over the Internet. This is only possible because the Internet  was
born through Open Standard protocols and, as a result, is the only powerful
and open communication infrastructure in the world and the greatest
invention since the transistor.

If patents are allowed, then we will kill the goose which lays the golden
egg! The smooth and profitable operation of a distribution network depends
on it being open and free to the public, who make their money by their use
of it not from their control of it. The Internet has been taken for granted
for too long and must be kept free!

Yours faithfully,


Jonathan Bullen
Director
Apollo Business Systems Ltd.
Tel:      020 8903 5493
Fax:     020 8903 7014
E-mail: jbullen@apollosystems.co.uk