Permit _ONLY_ royalty-free working groups in the W3C! from David Wheeler on 2001-10-01 (www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org from September 2001)

From: David Wheeler <dwheeler@ida.org>
Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 22:31:52 -0400 (EDT)
To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Message-Id: <200110010231.WAA12117@aphrodite.csed.ida.org>

Dear W3C,
  I am horrified that the W3C would even consider the so-called
"RAND" model of patents for its activities.  Creating standards that
force everyone else to pay for a patent is extortion, and the W3C
should have no part in it.

  If an idea is so good that everyone will use its patent, then
it doesn't need a standards body to bless it.  If it's not that good, then
if the W3C mandates it, the W3C becomes that organization's
hired gun.

  The internet and WWW have done so well in part BECAUSE their key
infrastructure components are free of patent royalties.  Let's learn
from that.

  Please, only permit royalty-free working groups in the W3C.

  Thank you.

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 22:32:24 UTC