- From: Leonard Heyman <lenehey@yahoo.com>
- Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2001 08:03:39 -0700 (PDT)
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
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