Patents don't belong on the WWW

I am dismayed at how corporate efforts to take over the internet and turn it
into their private cash cow continue unabated even during this time of
international tension and uncertainty.

These companies know no shame, but the W3C should hang its head in shame for
supporting their attempt to grab another big piece of the Internet under the
cover of the September 11th disaster.

The proposal to allow the adoption of patented 'standards' is not in the
public interest, because privately help corporations have historically
demonstrated that they cannot tolerate either free access or free speech
unless these things demonstrably improve their bottom line. They simply do
not deserve, nor can they they be trusted with ownership and licensing of
this precious public asset.

Please don't allow them to spoil the Internet for everyone.

Thank you.

David Smith
Web Designer and Multimedia Artist
Saint John, Canada

Received on Sunday, 7 October 2001 07:15:23 UTC