RE: Draft HTML5 licensing survey

The W3C Document License incorporates the Copyright FAQ by reference:
"However, if additional requirements (documented in the Copyright FAQ) are
satisfied, the right to create modifications or derivatives is sometimes
granted by the W3C to individuals complying with those requirements." See
http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/2002/copyright-documents-20021231.html.

The Copyright FAQ (http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/IPR-FAQ-20000620) then
says: "See our patent policy FAQ for information about translations and
patent commitments." 

The Patent Policy FAQ: http://www.w3.org/2003/12/22-pp-faq.html. 

Sort of circular, I admit, and it relies on multiple documents to say
similar things, but at least W3C is *trying* to establish a consistent IPR
policy relating to copyrights, patents and trademarks. Maybe now that W3C is
finally coming to terms with a complete HTML5 licensing policy, we can
gather all those references into one IPR document and one IPR FAQ? 

In the meantime, as I said earlier, I'd be completely satisfied to have
W3C's express copyright and patent permission to create any derivative
software I want.

/Larry



> -----Original Message-----
> From: public-html-request@w3.org [mailto:public-html-request@w3.org] On
> Behalf Of Maciej Stachowiak
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 4:48 PM
> To: Lawrence Rosen
> Cc: public-html@w3.org
> Subject: Re: Draft HTML5 licensing survey
> 
> 
> On Apr 25, 2011, at 4:30 PM, Lawrence Rosen wrote:
> 
> > Maciej Stachowiak asked:
> >> Can you cite the extra patent coverage or clarity that the Option 3
> >> license has relative to CC0 or the MIT license? I expect a pointer
> >> would be useful to WG members.
> >
> > I'm being intentionally precise (anal-retentive, as are all lawyers
> and
> > standards people). Options 1 and 3, for example, include these words:
> >
> >   W3C liability and trademark rules apply. As a whole, this document
> >   may be used according to the terms of the W3C Document License.
> >   In addition, to facilitate implementation of the technical
> specifications
> >   set forth in this document, anyone may prepare and distribute
> derivative
> >   works and portions of this document in software, in supporting
> materials
> >   accompanying software, and in documentation of software, PROVIDED
> that
> >   all such works include the notice below....
> >
> > This means that there is in overarching license, the W3C Document
> License,
> > which specifies copyright and patent terms for all W3C documents. *In
> > addition*, there is permission to prepare and distribute software
> *without
> > limiting the software license in any way*.
> 
> I think I need some more help. What are the patent terms specified in
> the W3C Document License? I assume this is the W3C Document License in
> question: <http://www.w3.org/Consortium/Legal/2002/copyright-documents-
> 20021231>.
> 
> Regards,
> Maciej
> 
>

Received on Tuesday, 26 April 2011 00:16:50 UTC