Patent Policies

I recently found out about the Patent Policy Framework draft that
could allow W3C members to charge royalty fees for technologies included
in web standards.  I think this is a big mistake.  The web has operated
on standards that do not require royalties, which has made it possible
to create web software technology royalty free.  That's the way things
have worked in the past, and that's the way they should work, in my
opinion, behind an open standard as important as the world wide web.

It would be a big, big mistake to start including "reasonable and
non-discriminatory" (RAND) licensing in new web standards.  The
exclusive use of a royalty-free licensing model is in the best interests
of the Internet community.  RAND licensing will put an end to open
source and free software implementations of web standards, something
supporters of RAND licensing appear to be very keen to do.

So much of the Internet exists and works as well as it does because of
the use of open, royalty-free standards.  The web has been a shining
example of this.  If patents have to be licensed to implement web
standards, it will be a move 180 degrees in the opposite direction, a
sad, sad day for public use of the Internet.

Please reject RAND licensing.

Regards,

Karl Lehenbauer
Chief Technology Officer
Proc Place, inc.
15823 Hidden Cove
Houston, TX  77079

Received on Friday, 5 October 2001 15:11:04 UTC