No Patents

I agree with Webstandards.org when they say, "the W3C policy we have 
been shown is not explicit, but dangerous and counterproductive. By 
opening the door to the adoption of patented technologies as Web 
standards, the W3C is turning its back on its own long-standing 
charter. Among the stated goals of that mission are:

"...by enabling new forms of human communication and opportunities to 
share knowledge...[to] make these benefits available to all people, 
whatever their hardware, software, network infrastructure, native 
language, culture, geographical location, or physical or mental 
ability..."

"...designing and promoting open (non-proprietary) computer languages 
and protocols that avoid the market fragmentation of the past..."

The W3C has never been a voice for the masses, and has never claimed 
to be. But this latest draft policy gives the impression of placing 
no stock in the individuals and groups that made the Web possible in 
the first place. These individuals developed the Web and then made it 
free for all to share and build upon, creating tools, protocols and 
languages used by hundreds of millions worldwide. "

L. Michelle Johnson
-- 
Makes Grown Men Cry
Inflatable Sheep and Other Passing Fancies
http://www.grownmencry.com/lmichelle/sheep.html