standard vs. patent

As I understand it, you cannot have a standard
(at least not a very useful one) without a 
reference implementation. Without such an
implementation, you get only a vague notion
of what the standard should be. Having to pay
royalties for the use of a reference implementation
is an abhorrent idea. 

You point out that the IETF has allowed the use
of patents. This is a false analogy (as evidenced
by several postings that have pointed this out).

By going down this path you open up a Pandora's
box of reverse-engineering questions and the use
of the DMCA to proscecute web developers.

Standards were always a way that reasonable 
consensus could be formed between developers
*without* the use of lawyers at every step.
With the inclusion of RAND, there will be
lawyers at every step. Is this what you want
your legacy to be?

Anoop Sarkar



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Received on Thursday, 4 October 2001 13:26:48 UTC