If it ain't broke... don't fix it.

The progress the W3C has made in the past *without*
giving in to royalty-burdened patents has been
absolutely fantastic.  

It is not like there is a lack of innovation here.
Why fix something that's not broken?  Money should 
not be the focus of the W3C... bringing the market 
to maturity and ensuring competition (and thus 
innovation) should be its goal.

Patents are wisely justified under the U.S. Constitution  
to "Promote the Sciences and Useful Arts" and are
not justified under any sort of natural-rights or
right to compensation logic.   One must ask if the 
patent process is indeed satisfying its goal.  If 
not, then institutions such as the W3C should not 
be rushing to support the implementation of 
restrictive mechanisms that are not needed.

Best,

Clark C. Evans

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 13:41:17 UTC