Public comment

Hello,
   as comments have been requested from the Internet community
concerning changes to the W3C, it is readily apparent that the future of
the Internet remains the responsiblity of everyone who participates.
Changing a key component of how the W3C regards both royalties and
patents to reflect a limited view of royalties and patenting which is
only valid within a generally American framework shows a lack of
awareness of the global network which the Internet represents.
   It may be instructive for the W3C to review current history, using
the recent 'dispute' about the GIF format. Unisys's attempt to collect
royalties for what is essentially an algorithm has not led to an
increased revenue stream for the company, since a Webmaster such as
myself in Germany has no legal obligation to recognize a patent which is
not applicable within the EU; many companies, organizations, and
individuals converted graphics to other formats (such as PNG), which
are  unencumbered by the clumsy legal tactics of an inept company in
such of unearned revenue; and the Internet remains too diverse for any
single organization to have any realistic chance to change the basic
values upon which the Internet has grown.
   It is sad to see the increasing irrelevance of such a fine
organization as W3C, which was once a model for proving that cooperation
was the essence of a successful network. Attempting to replace such an
innovative concept was predictable, though it stands in stark contrast
to what made the W3C an institution worthy of respect. Of course, since
the proof has already been provided of how to create a successful global
network, it is also instructive to watch the number of subsequent
attempts which have failed, due to such trivial concerns as patents or
royalty licensing, such as WAP.
   Obviously, I am opposed to the recent changes which have been so
thoughtfully provided for inspection for the entire Internet community,
in a similar fashion to ICANN's inept and often illegal practices.

Thank you - G. Turner



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Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 05:46:50 UTC