- From: Christian Schaller <uraeus@linuxrising.org>
- Date: 06 Oct 2001 12:49:13 +0200
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Hi, I would strongly urge the W3C not to adopt a policy of allowing patentable 'standards'. If you do then there is really no need for the W3C anymore since the W3C don't fullfill its position of setting free and open standards for the web anymore, instead it becomes a way for big companies to brand their proprietary extensions. With Microsoft controlling 70%+ of the browser market according to the latest studies the W3C would marginalize itself completely if people no longer can feel confident that the W3C stands for free and open standards anymore, in constrast to Microsoft, but instead just ratifies the proprietary add-ons created by Microsoft, IBM and others. I mean a web developer can easily see why using open and free technologies would yield long term advantages in contrast to using proprietary extensions from one company, but I doubt any developer would feel a proprietary extensions with a 'approved by W3C' stamp has any lasting value over one with a 'approved by Microsoft with guaranteed to work on over 70% of the browsers on the market' stamp. Sincerely, Christian Schaller
Received on Saturday, 6 October 2001 06:51:16 UTC