Comments on patent policy

Dear W3C Patent Policy Working Group:

As a patent attorney, I'm particularly aware of the exclusionary
effect a patent can have on an area of technology.  The whole purpose
of a patent is, in fact, to "exclude others from making and using the
invention."  

Please think hard before choosing to adopt web standards that are
patented.  There are many individuals and organizations, particularly
among open source and free software developers who would not be
willing to adopt a standard if it required the payment of a licensing
fee.  This could result in an abandonment of W3C standards among
these groups and therefore an even more fractured Internet community.
 

If the purpose of adopting standards is to unify the Internet and
provide a means by which the maximum number of people can be reached,
then establishing an exclusionary policy such as adopting patented
technologies as standard would seem to be counter-productive.

Sincerely yours,


Leonard Heyman, Esq.
30 Squadron Line Rd
Simsbury, CT  06070

Received on Friday, 5 October 2001 11:03:41 UTC