[www-patentpolicy-comment] <none>

The increasing allowance of patented IP in the W3C's standards 
are rendering them increasingly meaningless as standards.  I'll 
support competing truely open standards (no patents permitted 
period, GPL) over anything encumbered by patents.  As has been 
repeatedly demonstrated, holders of such patents do not really 
allow free access -- they just wait for the technology to become 
embedded and then "changed their minds" and gouge.  Changing 
policy to allow gouging from the outset is outrageous.  The W3C 
needs to change course, not lock futher into the abuse of 
"standards".  I'm fairly amazed Mr. Lee would allow this, since 
he has publically stated how "useful" patents, etc. would have 
been to the spread of HTML and HTTP.  I doubt these comments will 
make any difference since I don't have any money for 
bribes/contributions, but duty requires me to help the record 
reflect that this abuse of position as a standard maker is not 
passing unnoticed.

N.

Received on Monday, 1 October 2001 05:38:43 UTC