Re: [xml-dev] RAND issues

[David Orchard <orchard@pacificspirit.com>]

Agreed, and that's pretty much our position as expressed to the w3c.  We 
need to keep the entry requirements to web services as low as possible, and 
RF is a key plank in that platform.

Cheers,
Dave
BEA W3C AC rep

At 12:02 PM 10/4/01 -0700, Tim Bray wrote:
>I think that those standards which have to live in the
>space where you might have to pay a toll to use them are
>precisely those which W3C should stay away from.  Yes they
>exist - e.g. the IEEE standardizes lots of things which you
>have to pay patents to use - but the reason the Web is
>interesting is that anyone can play without having to pay
>for permission.  I'm not interested in playing RAND games.
>I'm not interested in a Web where Open-Source efforts are
>second-class citizens.
>
>I think that the W3C should adopt a policy of involving itself
>only with RF patents, recognize that this is difficult and
>complicated, and just deal with it.  Tools that are available
>to achieve this goal include:
>
>- requiring diligent search and disclosure from all members,
>   not just those who participate in particular WGs, for IP
>   that may stand in the way of some task or another
>- where such IP exists and the holder isn't willing to grant
>   RF, changing the standard to work around the IP
>- use of the bully pulpit and any other leverage the W3C can
>   bring to bear to make it very painful for anyone who tries to
>   set up a tollbooth on W3C output
>- declining to enter standardization activities where it
>   appears that RF status can't be achieved
>
>I think this is very important. -Tim
>
>
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>The xml-dev list is sponsored by XML.org <http://www.xml.org>, an
>initiative of OASIS <http://www.oasis-open.org>
>
>The list archives are at http://lists.xml.org/archives/xml-dev/
>
>To subscribe or unsubscribe from this elist use the subscription
>manager: <http://lists.xml.org/ob/adm.pl>