W3C's Patent policy

As someone who is heavily involved in Non-profit and/or unfunded
organizations, I would like to add my voice against any 
inclusion of standards which are not completely free and open
in the W3C's sent of standards.

Many Non-profit and underfunded charity organizations use 
many Open technologies, as they are the only technologies that
can be easily afforded by these organizations.  Those of us
who donate our time and effort to help these organizations
look to the W3C's standards to help us move the computer 
community forward.  Any inclusion of standards which might
now or in the future either cause limitations on the usage of
W3C's standards, or incurr (however nominal) costs to use
those standards will be an onerous burden on organizations
who are already underfunded, and who in all likelyhood are
going to be even MORE disadvantaged with the coming Global
recession.

Please keep our standards totally free, and totally open.

Thank You.

Scott Balneaves
Unix Administrator
Legal Aid Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

-----------+ The Law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich,
sbalneav @ | as well as the poor, to sleep under the bridges,
e-brz. com | to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.
           |     -- Anatole France

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 17:51:20 UTC