Re: Adoption of RAND license

Dear Sir/Madam,

I write to oppose the adoption of RAND license.  The very foundation of
the Internet, that has become ubiquitous, is based on the technologies
and the ideas developed under research grants by the various agencies of
the US government and many academic
institutions (funded by tax payer monies).  These technologies
(including the web standards) and ideas, over time were standardized
and made available as "open" standards with out any license fees.

There is no doubt in anybody's mind that it is the ubiquity of the web
technologies that made possible the phenomenal growth of the Internet. 
Needless to say, many companies made a good fortune using the web
technology from the days of it's infancy.

Now, realizing that the web technology is here to stay, I find it very
ironic and disturbing that some of these companies want to further the
web with proprietary extensions that is not useable by the masses (who
supported the development of the Internet with their tax dollars)
unless they are willing to pay additional fees.

With the RAND license an important competitor, free software, will be
eliminated to the detriment of all.

                                Sincerely Yours,

                                Meers Oppenheim

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Received on Thursday, 4 October 2001 09:28:13 UTC