- From: Anders S. Buch <abuch@math.mit.edu>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 22:56:57 -0400 (EDT)
- To: <www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org>
The W3C has gained a solid reputation by promoting free, open, platform-neutral, and vendor-neutral standards. If the W3C now changes its policy and recommends "standards" which may one day turn out to be covered by patents owned by its members, and if such a scenario would require everybody who have implemented these standard to start paying royalty fees, then much of the incentive to follow W3C standards will have disappeared. In fact, if the W3C adopts such a policy, it will be an invitation for others to take on the job of promoting truly open standards which people can count on. Remember: The W3C has not maintained its relevance solely by having Tim Berners-Lee as director. The W3C is relevant because it has recommended standards which people could use with confidence. Please continue your good work from the past and drop ALL plans to recommend (or even tolerate) patent encumbered standards!
Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 22:58:44 UTC