DISAPPROVE of draft policy

Hello: 

I request that W3C disapprove the draft patent policy, because 
its a compromise that will cause problems later on. 

When a patented principle 'gets in' as a web standard, it causes 
problems when the web experience needs to be seamlessly 
extended to non-web areas. 

Imagine for a moment that Microsoft invented and was granted a patent on 
a new file management interface. This patented technique was 
then made a W3C standard for managing web servers. 

Now, someone observes that using this technique for managing
information on your local computer makes a lot of sense. But it
cannot be implemented by non-Microsoft users (as well as by users of  
free software), who must switch to a different interface when dealing 
with their own computer. Completely non-intuitive. 

I object to many software patents. I cannot say I object to all of them. 
I do object to the laxity the USTPO shows in granting certain obvious 
patents. I understand the W3C wants to avoid potential patent problems, 
but you have to understand you cannot please all the people all the time. 
For instance, web browser plugins are patented. What can you do about it? 

I suggest you make your own judgement about the "obviousness" of inventions 
while defining web standards, especially in cases when prior art exists. 
If need be, move back abroad - to Switzerland - where patent law is more
sane. This way litigation is left to the implementers - after all, you are
just defining a standard that you think is fair, which is free speech. 

Regards,
Sonam Chauhan
-- 
Corporate Express Australia Ltd.
Phone: +61-2-9335-0725, Fax: 9335-0753, Email: sonamc@ce.com.au

Received on Tuesday, 7 January 2003 05:08:33 UTC