Against proposals for RAND Licensing

I have just read the proposals for RAND licensing.  Apparently this is
being pressured by commercial interests.

This is a dangerous course to pursue.  Why would you permit a standard
to be licensable for a fee?  By allowing patented technology to become a
standard you are creating a monopoly, which is open to abuses, and
almost certainly leads to mediocrity of implementation.

It would be far better to have an open standard, where there competition
for the best implementation.

If a standard for fee based services is being sought, then fine, create
an open standard for collecting the fees.

Please don't create a standard which has to be paid for to use.  This
would be in the interests of corporations only, not in the general
interest...

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 11:10:51 UTC