Why are you choosing the wrong way?

I understand that the W3C owes itself to its members. But not to the
point of dismantling its very foundations.

I understand that the W3C faces a situation of fragmentation - whether
it adopts the RAND Policy or not. The W3C has this grave decision to
make: sticking to its principles, or helping vendors hijack the Web.

Sticking to its principles stands for vouching for free, open
standards.

Going blindly along with the private companies desires means that you
have been lying to us, laughing at us, ripping us off. Where does
"patent software" fit in the original role of the W3C, proudly
proclaimed at http://www.w3.org/Consortium/#role?

This is my proposal to the W3C: If the big guys want the bucks, let
them earn them themselves. Turn your back on them and take the Open
Source community in. That's where real interoperability and
accessibility can be really achieved. That's where technical
specifications made by experts not subjugated to corporate decisions
can aspire to become real standards. Take advantage of the unavoidable
fragmentation. You have a fertile soil ahead. The last harvest turned
rotten, learn from your mistakes.

Failing that: Build a closed Web. But remember, neither the W3C nor
its members own the Web. We do not need you to use TCP/IP, HTTP or
HTML. Your policy was wrong and has led to this. In spite of your
Recommendations not being even slowly implemented by your own members,
more and more people everywhere have been taking you into their
confidence and hopes. If your accepting software patents is the
outcome... well, we have no reason to pay any money for your mistakes.
We have no reason to accept being blackmailed like this. We can surf
for free.

Regards,
--
Juan R. Pozo
http://html.conclase.net/

Received on Thursday, 4 October 2001 20:41:45 UTC