Re: W3C's Response to Public Comments on the Patent Policy Framework Working Draft

The acceptance of a patent in a "standard" invalidates the 
standard, unless there are explicit terms that require that the 
patent be freely licensed for all standard compliant issues.

A "standards organization" which promulgates patented 
"standards" ceases forthwith the right to be called a standards 
organization.  Without excuses.  Saying "other people do it" 
isn't a valid excuse.  There are no valid excuses.

To misuse the term "Open Source" to describe anything patented 
should be grounds for being sued.  I don't think that $1,000,000 
per violation is excessive.

This has made me look with less favor on the companies that have 
lent their name to this atrocity.  E.g., Apple.  I had been 
thinking relatively good thoughts about it, and was considering 
recommending an Apple computer to an acquaintance.  Now I won't. 
  This is because of Apple's participation in this matter.  I 
intend to make a list of all parties participant in this list, 
and put them on my 10% list (or, possibly, move them from the 
10% list to the 20% list).  This means that they must provice a 
product that seems to be 10% (or 20%) better than the 
competition before they will be considered for purchase.  I had 
a 30% list for awhile, but nobody on it ever qualified for 
purchase, so I retitled it "plonk".
-- 
Charles Hixson

Copy software legally, the GNU way!
Use GNU software, and legally make and share copies of software.
See http://www.gnu.org
     http://www.redhat.com
     http://www.linux-mandrake.com
     http://www.calderasystems.com/
     http://www.linuxapps.com/

Received on Tuesday, 2 October 2001 10:56:55 UTC