W3C Patent Policy Framework

In the W3C Patent Policy Framework document, Overview section, you state:

"In developing a new patent policy for W3C Activities, our goal is to affirm 
the Web community's longstanding preference for Recommendations that can be 
implemented on a royalty-free (RF) basis. Where that is not possible, the new 
policy will provide a framework to assure maximum possible openness based on 
reasonable, non-discriminatory (RAND) licensing terms."

I fully agree that the Web community's longstanding preference is for 
Recommendations that can be implemented on a royalty-free basis.  I would go 
further, though: there should be no place for non-royalty-free standards at 
the W3C.

It is already possible for companies to produce non-royalty-free content on 
the World Wide Web, and indeed this has already been done without the help of 
the W3C.  There is no need for the W3C to get involved with this.  Involving 
the W3C would benefit the corporations who produce non-royalty-free content, 
but would provide no benefit to the actual web users.

I believe that having the W3C allow RAND licensing will have the effect of 
discouraging royalty-free standards, and decrease the overall usefulness of 
the World Wide Web.  I believe that any non-royalty-free policy is inherently 
unreasonable and discriminatory.  I believe that the open nature of existing 
web standards is what made the web the success that it is today.

Please, reconsider the new patent policy, and remove any support for 
non-royalty-free standards and recommendations.

-- 
			Eric Backus <eric_backus@agilent.com>
			http://labejb.lsid.hp.com/
			(425) 335-2495

Received on Monday, 15 October 2001 13:21:48 UTC