Simplified Technology Company's Position on Patent Policy

As a staunch capitalist, I express my disapproval of permitting patented
elements in W3C standards.

The standards published by the W3C are a common ground to ensure
interoperability and compatibility. Everything the W3C delves into is
the "lower-level". An example of "higher-level" is Java. Java has
constraints, and is legally moderated by Sun.

If an independent organization wishes to extend a W3C published standard
with the independent organization's patented elements, then I proclaim
to let the free market reign! As in the past, the future should permit
one of three scenerios when considering patented elements to a W3C
published standard:

1) The independent organization extends the standard with proprietary
elements.
2) The independent organization releases the patent from encumbrances 
   for inclusion in a standard without restriction.
3) The independent organization leaave the patented elements to
obscurity.

Under scenerio 1, if the independent organization's extension proves
indispensible to the marketplace, then the independent organization will
be rewarded financially; however, the independent organization risks the
ire of the industry, may proceed in a direction undesireable to the
marketplace, and/or may suffer financially for making a unilateral
manuever.

Under scenerio 2, the elements are available to every technology
implementor which 
leverages the particular W3C standard.

Regardless of scenerio 1, 2, or 3 transpiring, the playing field is
level. Additional independent organizations may compete by extending the
standard, so the free market prevails. If patented elements are
permitted into the W3C standards, then fissures will develop in the form
of consortia competing with the W3C and closed agreements between
entities (no longer termed standards) with a general partner named W3C.

In the U.S., we consider our government a grand experiment. I view
innovation, organizations, and markets with the same perspective. I
believe it will be expeditious to our current marketplace for patented
technology to remain outside the walls of the W3C:)
-- 
Cordially,
Gregory Carvalho
Simplified Technology Company
In God I Trust!

Received on Friday, 9 November 2001 15:43:21 UTC