RAND patents and web standards, bad idea

To whom it may concern,

I have worked in the cellular telecommunications industry for many years and
if there is one thing that I have learned its that allowing patents into the
standards does two things, first it stifles innovation because companies
with vested interest attempt to include anything that could generate a
royalty into the standard and second it creates a barrier to entry which
makes it nearly impossible for smaller companies to participate in the
process.  Allowing RAND patents in W3 standards would have a similar
chilling effect.  The growth of the web and its popularity are directly
connected to the fact that it is not encumbered in such a manner.  You would
basically cut up the web into corporate fiefdoms and create a climate which
will effectively kill the medium as it is known.  You will also render
yourselves irrelevant once these vested interests have taken over.  The mere
thought that this could be effective policy makes me ill.

Bill Breen 

____________________________________________________
Bill Breen
Software Engineer
Elektrobit Inc.
Direct: (425) 444-2391
bill.breen@elektrobit.com
http://www.elektrobit-usa.com

Received on Thursday, 14 November 2002 16:33:05 UTC