- From: Dale Pontius <DEPontius@edgehp.nols.com>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 20:59:25 -0400
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org, DEPontius@edgehp.nols.com
Dear sirs: In my opinion, allowing standards to become encumbered by patents would be unwise from the standpoint of international relations. Many parts of the third world, such as India and South America are making great strides toward joining the Information Age. However, these countries do not have a great deal of money, and would properly rather spend it on infrastructure and health rather than web browser standards compliance royalties. The imposition of royalties then erects another 'us vs them' fence, and recent events highlight the dangers inherent. From the point of view of people in the third world, Americans and Western Europeans frequently appear as money grubbing, more concerned for their profits than their fellow man. So far the Internet has been a great world forum, imposing few barriers other than the necessary infrastructure. Making standards royalty-bearing sets us on the road to further feelings of hostility from the third world as it appears we are setting a stumbling block to their attempts at improvement. Sincerely, Dale Pontius
Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 20:51:19 UTC