I oppose the W3C's proposed change in patent policy.

I believe that web standards should not be encumbered by patents.
Including patented algorithms in W3C recommendations will have a chilling
effect on free software for the web.  One of the main reasons for the
success of the web is standards based protocols and file formats.  The
only ones who would benefit from the proposed change are the holders of
such patents.  The only way it is acceptable to use patented technology
in standards is to require that the technology be freely licensed to
everyone with no restrictions.

Please keep the web standards free of patented technology.

Thank you,

Greg Johnson
Clark University Physics
950 Main St.
Worcester, MA 01610

Received on Sunday, 30 September 2001 20:36:52 UTC