- From: John Anderson <johna@irev.com>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 14:47:52 -0400
- To: <www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org>
Good afternoon. I am writing to voice my concerns regarding the proposed change in position regarding patented technologies in W3C standards. As a long time internet user, I have come to realize the importance of freely implementable and open technologies as the primary factor in the scalability, reliability, and openness of the Internet. Since the beginnings of the global internet, the IETF has relied on open and freely available standards to ensure compatibility and security in the core functionality of the internet. Tools such as Sendmail, BIND, and other core technologies all rely on the existence of a free and open standard. If patented technologies had been allowed in the critical RFCs implemented by these products, these carrier class free applications would have never been created. How much would such a situation have stifled the growth of the internet? Any patent encumbered technology, regardless of licensing scenario, prohibits the creation of freely available open source implementations of the technology. When this happens, the internet is no longer open, and a key insurance policy of free implementations of core standards in lost forever. I urge the W3C to avoid placing control the web solely in the hands of for-profit corporations. The web is about freedom and innovation, and the policy proposal effectively cripples both. Regards, John Anderson
Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 14:44:58 UTC