RAND initiative

• From: User FWC <fwc@frankcole.lvcm.com>
• Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 11:13:39 -0700 (PDT)
• To: <www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org>
• Message-ID: <20010930111228.G28385-100000@frankcole.lvcm.com>

I received a note about the RAND initiative this morning. This initiative
looks like the first step to closing what have up to now been open,
well-documented standards. This is not a good idea.

The WWW as it currently exists is open to any and all comers, with no hidden
charges or restrictions. This is the primary reason it has done so well over
the last several years. In contrast, several proposed proprietary or
cost-based standards have died a silent death due to the restrictions
imposed.

If costs are imposed by the W3C consortium the current system will be
replaced eventually by something not necessarily better but whatever the
replacement is it will be freely accessible to all.

Thank you for your time

Frank W. Cole

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 14:14:20 UTC