- From: Norman Megill <nmegill@bostoninformation.com>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 18:45:53 -0400
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
I truly hope this does not pass for reasons many others have elaborated. But if it does, PLEASE include a clause allowing any Free Open Source licensed software (GPL, BSD, etc.) to make use of the patented public standard for free. This is the only way the policy can be considered "Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory." It is simply NOT FAIR to exclude Free Open Source software from use of public standards over a public network, which is what will happen. Free Open Source software is developed by a hardworking community of volunteers for the benefit of everyone. Since it is effectively "owned" by the public there is of course no one to pay for the license. Thus the software will be prohibited from communicating over the public network once patented protocols become widespread. Open source developers have provided a gift to the world that has benefitted everyone; this is the thanks they get? Open source developers are not asking to use patented standards and don't want them endorsed as public standards by the W3C. They will be forced to use these patented standards against their will, or not communicate at all, if W3C endorsement results in their widespread use over the public network. --Norm
Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 18:46:53 UTC