Comments on W3C patent policy

Dear W3C Patent Policy Working Group:

As a web user since 1994 and a developer for the past six years, I have 
been closely following W3C standards in my work.

All software I build today generates standards-compliant web pages using 
HTML 4.01 and CSS1. Should patented items be allowed into web standards, 
I will no longer be able to do this, and the web will fragment into a 
Microsoft web, an AOL web and an everyone-else web.

I'm concerned about the recent Patent Policy Framework draft, which could 
allow W3C members to charge royalty fees for technologies included in web 
standards.

In particular, I object to the inclusion of a "reasonable and 
non-discriminatory" (RAND) licensing option in the proposed policy. I 
believe that the exclusive use of a "royalty-free" (RF) licensing model 
is in the best interests of the Internet community, and that RAND 
licensing would always necessarily exclude some would-be implementors, 
especially among open source and free software developers.


Paul

         shad 96c / uw cs 2001 / mac activist / eda / fumbler
fan of / jewel / sophie b. / sarah slean / steve poltz / emm gryner /
       / x-files / buffy / dawson's creek / habs / bills / 49ers /
         
         t h i n k  d i f f e r e n t.

it's nothing that i understand, but when in your arms /
you have complete power over me /
-- Jewel Kilcher, "Near You Always"

Received on Friday, 5 October 2001 09:30:05 UTC