simple analysis

I could write something long and wordy as there are certainly many, many
reasons I disagree with the RAND proposal.  But I'll settle for the most
obvious point, patents and standards simply don't get along.  Standards
are something that should have the aim of getting people behind them,
rather than the aim of helping corporations make money.  I have no
problems with corporations making money, but helping them in this way
causes people to no longer get behind either the specific
patent-encumbered standard in question or standards from the W3C in
general. If this proposal goes through then do not doubt that the
importance of W3C goes down immeasurably.  
 
Thompson Hayner