- From: VanL <van@lindbergs.org>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 08:56:45 -0600
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Hello, I am writing to express my extreme dissatisfaction with the RAND working draft. I believe that its adoption will be detrimental to the entire internet and to the W3C itself. The growth of the internet has largely been a result of freely available protocols and specifications. From the protocol level (TCP/IP), through the common RFC specifications, to the open document formats heretofore supported by the W3, the open and royalty-free nature of the specifications has been crucial as an engine of adoption and the development of a level playing field for all members of the community. Indeed, the growth seen over the past several years in the WWW, and the attendant business growth, are arguably because of these open and royalty-free standards. Allowing non-royalty free material to become part of any W3 specification leaves the door open for different companies to become gateways to the future internet. Because the provisions within the RAND working draft create an incentive for companies to include as much patented material as possible in W3 recommendations, the adoption of the RAND working draft in any degree would lead us down a slippery slope towards a future of completely encumbered specifications. As I said earlier, this would be detrimental to the W3C, as well. When companies have become gateways to the adoption of W3 recommendations, the W3 will stop being as relevant, as it will no longer be the last word in the adoption of the standard. Accordingly, I must recommend AGAINST the adoption of the working draft as strongly as I am able. Thank you, Van Lindberg
Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 10:48:15 UTC