[www-patentpolicy-comment] <none>

I must agree with WASP opinion below:

Regardless of anyone's opinion of the propriety of issuing patents for
software, it is clear that patents will continue to be applied for, and
continue to be issued. The W3C should take a strong stand against the use or
adoption of any patented technology as a Web standard, unless such patents are
guaranteed to be and remain royalty-free, for use by all.

Such a stand will maintain the open nature of the Web, while allowing the
participants to continue to innovate and the lawyers to continue to protect
their employers' assets. At the same time, it will enable independent
developers to continue expanding the variety of interoperable implementations
without the threat of legal action. Remember the text of your own Member
Agreement:

"[W3C] ...agree to grant and hereby grant to Member a non-exclusive
royalty-free, irrevocable, right and license to use, reproduce, modify,
translate, distribute, publicly display and publicly perform all computer
software and documentation described in Section 7 (b) throughout the
world..."

I am therefore against the new W3C patent policy.

Douglas Holt
dougholt@usa.net

Received on Monday, 8 October 2001 13:38:43 UTC