The Death of the W3C Foretold

To all in the World Wide Software Development Community and all W3C Members

The advent of the World Wide Web has been arguably one of the most, if  not
the most, revolutionary development in the IS industry in the last 25 years.
It, and The Net on which it rests were created from the selfless and
tireless intellectual contributions from thousands of dedicated individuals,
including Mr Berbers-Lee and the late John Postel.  To allow Corporate
Interests to take over the control of the W3C by use of the increasingly
discredited and compromised Patent process would be to destroy the
creditability of the W3C and would inhibit non-corporate individuals, or
corporate individuals with high ethical standards from participation.
The W3C has done well so far to promote royalty-free standards. I am
disgusted, and angry that the W3C organization even considers allowing
Corporate Interests to impose royalties on standards which we all need and
all contribute to.

If the W3C is so arrogant , or already so compromised by large corporation
and their profit motives,  as to proceed with RAND, then it will become
irrelevant, wither awa, and be replaced by a new organization founded on the
original principles which were used to guide its creation.

This is not a trivial matter. The very survival and credibility of the W3C
is at stake. All W3C standards BY DEFINITION must be RF!

Thank you

Nigel Blackwell
Director of Engineering
GAeXPRESS
www.gaexpress.com
nblackwell@gaexpress.com
(949) 250 4800 x696
"I am, therefore I think"
.,

Received on Tuesday, 2 October 2001 21:13:36 UTC