- From: Niall Walsh <me@niallwalsh.com>
- Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001 17:20:40 +0100
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Dear Sir or Madam, I have one simple statement, it is entriely unacceptable to include any idea which MAY be convered by a patent within an open standard. Please note that my position in this is as an internet developer and a user of Free Software who is also responsible for the IT/IS services of an Irish telecommunications company. My reasons for assuming this position include the simple fact that I would regard any "standard" which required royalty payments as a vulnerable standard which will delay the adoption of new technologies aswell as the fact that the W3 could no longer be assumed to be an authoritative source of information on any such influenced standard as the standard would be at least partially controlled by a thrid party. Finally the differing IP laws relating to patents worldwide would lead to wholesale confusion and difficulty for developers who wished to utilise "standards" within any program as they would be required to be Internationl Patent Law experts. Please restate your position as follows: "No W3 Standard from today may include any technology which is covered by a patent application unless permission is granted by the patent holder for unlimited Free use of the patent" Niall "never underestimate the dark side of the source" "software is like sex, it's best when it's free"
Received on Tuesday, 2 October 2001 12:18:39 UTC