Comment re. allowing patented technologies

As a technical director of a Web development shop I am adamantly opposed 
to allowing Web "standards" endorsed by W3C to be covered by patents 
regardless of their breadth or terms.

The interrelated nature of many of the W3C standards makes it likely 
that future, tangentially-related technologies would become inaccessible 
on the whims of some patent holder.  Just as we are not publishing 
entire Web sites with PDF or Flash technologies, we would stay clear of 
any technologies that can be controlled by third parties, however 
benevolent they might seem.  If Adobe, Macromedia or Microsoft want to 
push their technologies, let THEM do it.  Don't sell out.

Jan C. Zawadzki
Genie Systems Ltd. New Zealand

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 20:33:54 UTC