- From: Julian Regel <julian@white-tower.demon.co.uk>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 19:21:09 +0100 (BST)
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
The Internet was built on open standards - that is one of the main reasons why it has been successful and proprietry networks have all but disappeared. The patent proposals being put forward are an anathema to the whole idea behind the web. We have already seen the damage done by software patents and de facto standards: GIF and MP3 are examples of this. Small developers are unable to innovate because of excessive license fees. I have always had respect for the W3C but this move concerns me greatly. The W3C has pushed for "standards compliance" in web browsers. How will small developers be able to comply with these standards if license fees become a stumbling block? How would Tim Berners-Lee been able to develop the web if something fundamental such as TCP/IP had been patented? The proposals are fine if you want to see web standards turned into a corporate playground, but for those of us who understood the web to be a method of exchanging rich content in a free environment, it is a sad day. I would urge the W3C to abandon this course of action and stand up for the smaller developers in the world - people who, like Tim Berners-Lee, could be responsible for the "next big thing". Sincerly. Julian Regel
Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 14:22:35 UTC