- From: Loren Guthrie <lguthrie@teleport.com>
- Date: Sun, 30 Sep 2001 12:34:31 -0700
- To: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
Dear Sirs, I recently read the Patent Policy Working Group FAQ, and take issue with the concept of a "Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory" license. If W3C Members are permitted to propose Recommendations which depend on software licensed under non-RF terms, they will most certainly do so. By requiring RF terms for ALL technologies needed to implement Recom- mendations, W3C has an opportunity to give patent-holders an incentive to make their technologies available to the ENTIRE development community, not just those who have deep pockets. Conversely, if RAND terms are allowed, there will be a strong incentive for any Member to propose Recommendations which require patents they hold, as this will be an effective way to extort the licensing fee from all developers wishing to make their products fully standards compliant. I urge you to reconsider the implications of the RAND licensing, and furthermore hope that W3C will consider a patent policy which automatically dismisses from consideration any Recommendation which cannot be implemented using exclusively RF technologies. Thank You, Loren Guthrie
Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 15:34:36 UTC