Standard + RAND = Monopoly from Ron Schofield on 2001-10-05 (www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org from October 2001)

From: Ron Schofield <rschofie@hfx.andara.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2001 11:55:56 -0300
To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Message-Id: <4.3.2.7.2.20011005114843.021574a0@pop.hfx.eastlink.ca>

If you have a standard which requires royalties, then that leads to a 
monopoly. Let's say that HTTP required royalties, then that would be the 
worlds greatest monopoly. Now you say then users could choose a royalty 
free alternative, which everyone will do anyway. Then why have RAND at all. 
You will have "standards" that are never used. So what's the reason for 
having RAND in the first place. If this happens W3C will be replaced with 
some other body that understands the Internet. The worse case scenario is 
that standards will become fragmented. Get real and ditch this idea.

Ron

Received on Friday, 5 October 2001 11:03:51 UTC