change in standards policy

To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing to voice my opposition to the notion that the W3C allow
non-royalty free technologies in endorsed standards of the W3C.

The result of this action would result in the Balkanization of the web and
significantly reducing the useful work done at Universities and open
source projects.

In addition, this action would have significant impact on developing
nations as they come to depend more and more on the internet to aid in
modernizing their economies. Poorer and developing nations depend greatly
on access to free standards and open source software to build their
information infrastructures. Building proprietary "standards" will do
nothing but slow these nations as they attempt to use technology to bring
electronic information and electronic commerce to their citizens.

Please reconsider this rash action. The only thing it will accomplish is
the partitioning of the web into the haves and have-nots or a complete
dismissal of attempting to comply with W3C standards entirely.

--
Josh Walgenbach
University Information Technology Services
Indiana University

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 18:30:12 UTC