Public Issues for Patent Policy Framework of 20010816

Status of This Document

Prepared by the Patent Policy Working Group, this document is a summary of public comments (archive) on the 16 August 2001 Last Call Working Draft of the W3C patent policy framework. Email received in August, September, and October 2001 before the extended deadline is included here. Message numbers are the four digits before each URI's .html extension. Remaining to do: September 0076-0158, and October 0669-0751, 0835-0917, 1001-1083, and 1084-1166.

Extraordinary: The following are carefully prepared emails to be considered separately. September: 0485, 0535, 0736, October: 0762, 1303, 1337, 1350, 1369, 1398, 1502, 1514

Main concerns expressed by reviewers

• 1. Discrimination, fragmentation
• 2. Self-defeating for W3C
• 3. Conspiracy
• 4. Against Web/W3C/Internet philosophy/history
• 5. RAND-encumbered specs will not be implemented
• 6. Software patents are damaging
• 7. Support Alan Cox
• 8. Process concerns
• 9. Miscellaneous concerns
• 10. Miscellaneous comments
• 11. Suggestions

1. Discrimination, fragmentation

The primary themes from the following emails were:

• RAND will hurt open source developers;
• RAND discriminates against the poor (developers or developing countries);
• The RAND / RF split will fragment the Web. Some examples were given where encumbered technologies may be worked around: Token ring v. Ethernet, PNG v. GIF, SVG v. Flash, MP3 v. Ogg Vorbis.
• RAND is not in the best interest of the Web;
• RAND will stifle innovation and reduce choice;
• RAND harms end users, not just developers.
• Patents and standards are incompatible
• Universal access and RAND are incompatible
• Grouped here also are the "just say no" form letters, and comments from people who thought fees would be charged to use the Web.

September: 0009, 0011, 0013, 0014, 0015, 0016, 0021, 0025, 0044, 0054, 0056, 0057, 0060, 0061, 0063, 0065, 0071, 0072, 0075, 0159, 0160, 0161, 0162, 0163, 0164, 0165, 0166, 0167, 0169, 0171, 0173, 0174, 0175, 0177, 0178, 0179, 0182, 0183, 0185, 0187, 0188, 0189, 0190, 0192, 0193, 0195, 0196, 0201, 0202, 0204, 0205, 0206, 0208, 0211, 0212, 0214, 0216, 0223, 0225, 0226, 0228, 0229, 0232, 0234, 0235, 0237, 0238, 0243, 0244, 0245, 0247, 0248, 0249, 0251, 0252, 0253, 0254, 0255, 0256, 0257, 0258, 0259, 0260, 0261, 0262, 0263, 0264, 0265, 0266, 0267, 0268, 0270, 0271, 0272, 0273, 0274, 0275, 0277, 0278, 0279, 0280, 0281, 0283, 0284, 0285, 0286, 0287, 0288, 0289, 0290, 0291, 0292, 0293, 0294, 0297, 0298, 0299, 0300, 0301, 0302, 0303, 0304, 0306, 0307, 0308, 0309, 0310, 0312, 0313, 0314, 0315, 0316, 0318, 0319, 0320, 0321, 0322, 0323, 0329, 0332, 0334, 0335, 0337, 0338, 0339, 0340, 0341, 0342, 0343, 0349, 0350, 0351, 0353, 0354, 0355, 0357, 0361, 0366, 0370, 0371, 0373, 0376, 0377, 0378, 0381, 0382, 0383, 0385, 0387, 0388, 0390, 0391, 0392, 0393, 0394, 0396, 0400, 0402, 0405, 0406, 0407, 0410, 0412, 0413, 0414, 0415, 0417, 0419, 0421, 0422, 0427, 0428, 0432, 0435, 0436, 0439, 0441, 0442, 0444, 0449, 0450, 0451, 0453, 0454, 0456, 0458, 0459, 0462, 0463, 0470, 0477, 0478, 0479, 0480, 0483, 0490, 0491, 0492, 0500, 0501, 0503, 0505, 0525, 0527, 0532, 0534, 0536, 0326, 0327, 0328, 0347, 0359, 0368, 0380, 0394, 0395, 0397, 0403, 0405, 0408, 0409, 0416, 0432, 0457, 0461, 0472, 0477, 0500, 0501, 0504, 0512, 0513, 0517, 0537, 0538, 0539, 0540, 0541, 0542, 0543, 0546, 0547, 0549, 0552, 0553, 0554, 0556, 0557, 0558, 0559, 0561, 0562, 0564, 0566, 0567, 0571, 0572, 0573, 0574, 0576, 0577, 0578, 0579, 0581, 0582, 0583, 0585, 0586, 0587, 0605, 0607, 0610, 0614, 0618, 0619, 0620, 0621, 0624, 0625, 0626, 0627, 0628, 0630, 0633, 0636, 0637, 0643, 0645, 0646, 0647, 0649, 0653, 0654, 0655, 0662, 0663, 0664, 0666, 0667, 0668, 0669, 0671, 0672, 0674, 0677, 0678, 0679, 0682, 0683, 0684, 0685, 0691, 0695, 0697, 0699, 0702, 0703, 0705, 0706, 0709, 0712, 0714, 0715, 0718, 0721, 0725, 0733, 0736, 0742, 0744, 0748, 0751, 0754

October: 0000, 0002, 0003, 0011, 0013, 0016, 0024, 0027, 0029, 0030, 0031, 0032, 0039, 0040, 0043, 0044, 0045, 0046, 0050, 0053, 0062, 0064, 0066, 0070, 0075, 0078, 0079, 0080, 0084, 0087, 0088, 0089, 0090, 0092, 0094, 0097, 0098, 0099, 0100, 0102, 0103, 0108, 0110, 0111, 0112, 0113, 0114, 0115, 0117, 0119, 0120, 0122, 0123, 0124, 0125, 0127, 0128, 0129, 0130, 0131, 0133, 0134, 0137, 0139, 0140, 0141, 0142, 0144, 0147, 0148, 0149, 0151, 0152, 0153, 0155, 0156, 0157, 0158, 0159, 0161, 0164, 0168, 0169, 0171, 0172, 0173, 0175, 0176, 0177, 0178, 0180, 0181, 0183, 0184, 0185, 0187, 0188, 0190, 0192, 0193, 0194, 0195, 0198, 0199, 0201, 0202, 0204, 0206, 0207, 0210, 0212, 0214, 0215, 0216, 0217, 0218, 0219, 0220, 0221, 0222, 0223, 0224, 0225, 0226, 0227, 0228, 0231, 0234, 0235, 0236, 0238, 0239, 0241, 0242, 0244, 0245, 0246, 0247, 0248, 0249, 0250, 0251, 0252, 0253, 0255, 0257, 0260, 0262, 0264, 0266, 0267, 0270, 0271, 0272, 0273, 0278, 0280, 0282, 0284, 0285, 0286, 0287, 0290, 0292, 0294, 0295, 0298, 0299, 0300, 0301, 0302, 0305, 0306, 0307, 0308, 0309, 0310, 0311, 0312, 0313, 0314, 0315, 0316, 0318, 0321, 0323, 0324, 0325, 0328, 0329, 0330, 0331, 0333, 0336, 0340, 0342, 0343, 0345, 0347, 0348, 0349, 0351, 0352, 0353, 0359, 0360, 0361, 0362, 0363, 0366, 0367, 0368, 0372, 0373, 0376, 0377, 0379, 0381, 0383, 0384, 0385, 0386, 0388, 0390, 0391, 0392, 0393, 0395, 0396, 0397, 0398, 0399, 0400, 0401, 0402, 0403, 0404, 0405, 0406, 0408, 0409, 0410, 0412, 0413, 0414, 0416, 0417, 0420, 0421, 0422, 0423, 0426, 0427, 0430, 0431, 0432, 0433, 0434, 0435, 0436, 0437, 0439, 0440, 0441, 0442, 0443, 0444, 0446, 0447, 0449, 0450, 0451, 0452, 0453, 0455, 0459, 0461, 0462, 0463, 0464, 0466, 0468, 0473, 0474, 0476, 0478, 0479, 0481, 0482, 0485, 0486, 0487, 0488, 0489, 0490, 0492, 0496, 0498, 0499, 0500, 0502, 0508, 0509, 0525, 0541, 0585, 0586, 0610, 0611, 0612, 0619, 0633, 0649, 0650, 0753, 0756, 0760, 0761, 0762, 0768, 0771, 0772, 0773, 0775, 0778, 0779, 0780, 0783, 0787, 0793, 0796, 0799, 0801, 0802, 0804, 0805, 0806, 0807, 0810, 0812, 0816, 0817, 0818, 0820, 0822, 0824, 0826, 0827, 0828, 0830, 0832, 0833, 0918, 0922, 0923, 0924, 0925, 0926, 0929, 0930, 0931, 0932, 0934, 0935, 0937, 0940, 0941, 0944, 0945, 0949, 0950, 0952, 0953, 0955, 0957, 0958, 0959, 0964, 0965, 0966, 0968, 0969, 0970, 0971, 0972, 0973, 0974, 0975, 0977, 0978, 0979, 0980, 0981, 0982, 0984, 0985, 0987, 0988, 0989, 0990, 0991, 0992, 0993, 0994, 0995, 0996, 0997, 0999, 1000, 1202, 1218, 1230, 1234, 1235, 1237, 1238, 1240, 1247, 1250, 1252, 1254, 1255, 1256, 1259, 1261, 1262, 1265, 1266, 1268, 1269, 1270, 1271, 1272, 1273, 1274, 1275, 1276, 1277, 1278, 1280, 1281, 1283, 1284, 1285, 1286, 1289, 1290, 1291, 1293, 1294, 1295, 1296, 1297, 1298, 1300, 1302, 1304, 1305, 1307, 1308, 1310, 1311, 1312, 1313, 1314, 1318, 1319, 1321, 1324, 1325, 1328, 1329, 1330, 1331, 1332, 1333, 1334, 1335, 1336, 1338, 1339, 1340, 1342, 1345, 1347, 1348, 1350, 1352, 1353, 1354, 1356, 1357, 1358, 1359, 1360, 1361, 1362, 1364, 1365, 1366, 1367, 1368, 1377, 1378, 1379, 1380, 1381, 1383, 1387, 1389, 1391, 1393, 1394, 1395, 1396, 1397, 1398, 1399, 1401, 1402, 1404, 1405, 1407, 1408, 1409, 1412, 1413, 1414, 1415, 1416, 1422, 1424, 1427, 1428, 1429, 1430, 1431, 1432, 1434, 1435, 1436, 1437, 1438, 1439, 1440, 1441, 1444, 1445, 1446, 1449, 1451, 1452, 1454, 1456, 1457, 1458, 1459, 1460, 1461, 1466, 1469, 1470, 1471, 1472, 1473, 1476, 1477, 1478, 1479, 1482, 1483, 1484, 1485, 1486, 1488, 1489, 1490, 1493, 1494, 1495, 1497, 1498, 1499, 1503, 1504, 1508, 1512, 1514, 1515, 1516, 1517

2. Self-defeating for W3C

The primary themes from the following emails were:

• W3C will cease to be relevant with this policy;
• W3C should not be a pawn for big business;
• Don't promote proprietary technologies with the W3C logo;
• The reviewer has lost faith in W3C;

September: 0008, 0010, 0012, 0017, 0019, 0030, 0031, 0037, 0039, 0043, 0046, 0049, 0069, 0073, 0186, 0191, 0194, 0205, 0207, 0209, 0210, 0213, 0215, 0217, 0222, 0224, 0225, 0230, 0231, 0237, 0238, 0239, 0244, 0245, 0252, 0256, 0257, 0258, 0266, 0273, 0274, 0282, 0292, 0293, 0294, 0298, 0299, 0300, 0305, 0306, 0310, 0314, 0315, 0331, 0333, 0336, 0337, 0338, 0343, 0345, 0346, 0347, 0352, 0362, 0363, 0365, 0371, 0373, 0374, 0377, 0384, 0385, 0386, 0389, 0392, 0394, 0399, 0414, 0417, 0420, 0423, 0424, 0426, 0431, 0433, 0434, 0438, 0440, 0445, 0446, 0455, 0457, 0459, 0464, 0465, 0468, 0469, 0474, 0476, 0482, 0484, 0486, 0494, 0499, 0500, 0501, 0503, 0507, 0509, 0518, 0521, 0522, 0523, 0528, 0533, 0548, 0555, 0568, 0575, 0580, 0584, 0587, 0588, 0594, 0595, 0596, 0608, 0609, 0612, 0623, 0629, 0631, 0632, 0635, 0638, 0639, 0641, 0644, 0658, 0660, 0661, 0673, 0686, 0688, 0689, 0690, 0692, 0694, 0699, 0701, 0714, 0719, 0722, 0723, 0729, 0730, 0737, 0738, 0741, 0743, 0751

October: 0002, 0003, 0004, 0010, 0012, 0014, 0025, 0034, 0038, 0039, 0041, 0042, 0056, 0069, 0075, 0080, 0085, 0086, 0093, 0098, 0126, 0136, 0143, 0150, 0154, 0161, 0183, 0184, 0190, 0193, 0194, 0195, 0201, 0203, 0205, 0211, 0218, 0220, 0221, 0227, 0230, 0233, 0236, 0244, 0249, 0261, 0265, 0267, 0269, 0273, 0276, 0280, 0291, 0302, 0319, 0327, 0332, 0334, 0345, 0347, 0362, 0366, 0382, 0425, 0431, 0441, 0451, 0454, 0462, 0513, 0515, 0517, 0538, 0542, 0547, 0549, 0555, 0563, 0569, 0572, 0580, 0588, 0603, 0623, 0624, 0635, 0637, 0666, 0757, 0765, 0772, 0779, 0797, 0800, 0803, 0804, 0809, 0810, 0811, 0813, 0815, 0816, 0817, 0821, 0920, 0930, 0937, 0938, 0946, 0947, 0960, 0963, 1206, 1253, 1306, 1321, 1328, 1378, 1398, 1403, 1433, 1440, 1441, 1448, 1457, 1459, 1471, 1474, 1482, 1498, 1514

3. Conspiracy

September: 0041, 0245, 0247, 0250, 0254, 0256, 0274, 0277, 0282, 0284, 0287, 0290, 0292, 0295, 0297, 0299, 0300, 0302, 0311, 0315, 0317, 0318, 0330, 0331, 0375, 0380, 0434, 0467, 0507, 0551, 0556, 0558, 0575, 0646, 0747

October: 0007, 0014, 0020, 0022, 0034, 0138, 0181, 0184, 0190, 0199, 0205, 0213, 0214, 0219, 0230, 0233, 0234, 0240, 0243, 0249, 0259, 0327, 0366, 0422, 0423, 0428, 0429, 0434, 0438, 0445, 0448, 0451, 0452, 0460, 0463, 0465, 0466, 0477, 0491, 0495, 0501, 0511, 0514, 0522, 0524, 0528, 0543, 0561, 0602, 0605, 0608, 0986, 0988, 1242, 1248, 1249, 1441

4. Against Web/W3C/Internet philosophy/history

The primary themes from the following emails were:

• This is a substantial shift in policy for W3C
• This goes against the spirit of the Web/Internet
• This policy is inconsistent with the goals of universal access / W3C mission.

September: 0007, 0018, 0020, 0022, 0023, 0024, 0027, 0028, 0029, 0032, 0033, 0034, 0035, 0036, 0040, 0045, 0048, 0050, 0052, 0053, 0058, 0062, 0064, 0067, 0068, 0070, 0074, 0168, 0170, 0176, 0180, 0181, 0187, 0193, 0198, 0200, 0203, 0216, 0224, 0227, 0230, 0231, 0233, 0235, 0237, 0239, 0240, 0241, 0243, 0244, 0245, 0247, 0251, 0252, 0254, 0255, 0257, 0259, 0260, 0263, 0264, 0265, 0266, 0267, 0273, 0274, 0276, 0278, 0279, 0284, 0286, 0287, 0288, 0289, 0292, 0295, 0297, 0298, 0299, 0301, 0304, 0305, 0307, 0308, 0309, 0310, 0314, 0316, 0318, 0343, 0349, 0360, 0362, 0363, 0369, 0372, 0384, 0387, 0394, 0401, 0404, 0421, 0425, 0443, 0452, 0481, 0487, 0497, 0498, 0500, 0502, 0506, 0508, 0511, 0513, 0514, 0515, 0516, 0520, 0529, 0530, 0533, 0587, 0590, 0591, 0593, 0597, 0598, 0603, 0604, 0611, 0613, 0615, 0616, 0622, 0633, 0634, 0640, 0648, 0649, 0651, 0652, 0657, 0659, 0665, 0670, 0675, 0680, 0687, 0707, 0708, 0710, 0711, 0713, 0716, 0717, 0720, 0724, 0726, 0727, 0728, 0731, 0732, 0734, 0739, 0745, 0749, 0752

October: 0000, 0001, 0002, 0003, 0004, 0005, 0008, 0016, 0018, 0019, 0026, 0027, 0028, 0036, 0044, 0047, 0059, 0063, 0067, 0091, 0120, 0135, 0145, 0165, 0175, 0176, 0178, 0180, 0181, 0184, 0185, 0188, 0193, 0194, 0198, 0199, 0201, 0202, 0203, 0204, 0205, 0206, 0207, 0210, 0211, 0212, 0213, 0214, 0215, 0217, 0218, 0219, 0220, 0221, 0222, 0223, 0224, 0225, 0227, 0228, 0229, 0231, 0233, 0234, 0236, 0239, 0241, 0242, 0243, 0244, 0245, 0246, 0247, 0248, 0249, 0251, 0252, 0253, 0258, 0275, 0283, 0350, 0351, 0358, 0365, 0369, 0370, 0372, 0389, 0397, 0400, 0403, 0425, 0442, 0447, 0452, 0458, 0472, 0477, 0480, 0501, 0504, 0506, 0516, 0518, 0519, 0520, 0521, 0523, 0526, 0527, 0529, 0530, 0532, 0533, 0534, 0535, 0536, 0539, 0540, 0544, 0546, 0548, 0550, 0551, 0552, 0553, 0557, 0558, 0559, 0560, 0564, 0568, 0570, 0571, 0576, 0577, 0581, 0583, 0584, 0587, 0593, 0592, 0595, 0596, 0599, 0613, 0622, 0628, 0629, 0630, 0646, 0656, 0754, 0755, 0759, 0763, 0769, 0774, 0777, 0784, 0785, 0788, 0789, 0792, 0794, 0795, 0808, 0816, 0819, 0823, 0825, 0826, 0831, 0918, 0923, 0924, 0925, 0926, 0927, 0932, 0933, 0934, 0935, 0938, 0944, 0945, 0946, 0949, 0951, 0952, 0953, 0955, 0958, 0960, 0963, 0964, 0965, 0966, 0968, 0969, 0971, 0973, 0974, 0976, 0979, 0982, 0984, 0987, 0991, 0994, 0996, 0997, 1167, 1168, 1170, 1171, 1172, 1176, 1177, 1178, 1179, 1180, 1181, 1182, 1183, 1185, 1186, 1187, 1188, 1189, 1190, 1191, 1192, 1193, 1194, 1195, 1196, 1197, 1198, 1199, 1200, 1201, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1207, 1208, 1209, 1210, 1211, 1212, 1213, 1216, 1217, 1219, 1220, 1221, 1222, 1223, 1224, 1225, 1226, 1229, 1232, 1233, 1236, 1241, 1244, 1245, 1246, 1260, 1273, 1274, 1276, 1281, 1288, 1290, 1305, 1310, 1312, 1321, 1330, 1340, 1350, 1352, 1363, 1368, 1369, 1392, 1404, 1410, 1417, 1418, 1419, 1422, 1425, 1432, 1433, 1434, 1437, 1438, 1440, 1441, 1446, 1448, 1450, 1455, 1457, 1459, 1473, 1474, 1486, 1488, 1498, 1511, 1514

5. RAND-encumbered specs will not be implemented

A number of reviewers commented that the fear that an implementation may infringe a patent is enough to dissuade adoption of the standard.

August:

• 0004

September: 0042, 0066, 0185, 0221, 0272, 0273, 0276, 0280, 0288, 0299, 0314, 0318, 0319, 0356, 0358, 0368, 0436, 0447, 0485, 0519, 0524, 0587, 0616, 0676, 0735

October: 0001, 0037, 0043, 0047, 0054, 0168, 0183, 0194, 0198, 0201, 0213, 0220, 0233, 0236, 0244, 0246, 0362, 0397, 0425, 0531, 0643, 0661, 0758, 0770, 0773, 0825, 0921, 0931, 0940, 0941, 0957, 0959, 0982, 0989, 1169, 1288, 1400, 1419, 1434, 1441, 1459, 1482, 1489

6. Software patents are damaging

September: 0026, 0272, 0288, 0318, 0354, 0360, 0388, 0411, 0471, 0483, 0495, 0525, 0535, 0642, 0693, 0704, 0733, 0736

October: 0001, 0021, 0036, 0083, 0175, 0190, 0202, 0214, 0215, 0221, 0225, 0241, 0247, 0256, 0279, 0288, 0312, 0314, 0341, 0363, 0364, 0370, 0374, 0387, 0407, 0481, 0503, 0510, 0554, 0556, 0562, 0566, 0594, 0601, 0626, 0640, 0664, 0667, 0766, 0810, 0811, 0814, 0832, 0834, 0921, 1175, 1454, 1468

7. Support Alan Cox

September: 0172, 0184, 0197, 0236, 0251, 0256, 0274, 0275, 0281, 0295, 0303, 0545, 0558, 0561, 0563, 0569, 0576, 0592, 0600, 0602, 0609, 0681, 0747, 0751

October: 0034, 0052, 0055, 0057, 0072, 0203, 0263, 0296, 0316, 0338, 0346, 0356, 0362, 0370, 0375, 0405, 0565, 0766, 0767

8. Process concerns

• PPWG process should be more open.
• Extend deadline.
• Bring in Open Source people
• Skipping Candidate Recommendation is a violation of W3C process.

September: 0179, 0220, 0266, 0267, 0282, 0296, 0297, 0298, 0308, 0561, 0564, 0587, 0599, 0601, 0609, 0617, 0623, 0643, 0655, 0689, 0690, 0702, 0703, 0712, 0736, 0750, 0751

October: 0000, 0001, 0005, 0025, 0052, 0053, 0065, 0081, 0086, 0091, 0095, 0105, 0124, 0128, 0130, 0137, 0146, 0155, 0159, 0160, 0166, 0177, 0179, 0182, 0186, 0195, 0209, 0210, 0221, 0254, 0505, 0620, 0662, 0757, 0808, 1352, 1372, 1378, 1514

9. Miscellaneous concerns

September:

• No "Opt-out"; instead have "Confirmed Opt-in": 0199
• RF or percentage-based royalty only, no RAND: 0218
• RAND vague; technology on standard should not be of the type that is patented: 0253
• RAND vague; standards should not be covered by patents: 0263
• No need to change policy: 0266
• RAND will kill open source: 0300
• Can't easily draw the line between core technology and application layer: 0335, 0356, 0370, 0642
• Problematic that specific patent claims need not be disclosed before publication of Recommendation: 0356
• Concerns if the royalty must be paid for distribution (e.g., w.r.t. GPL): 0483
• Definition of RF leaves specs heavily encumbered, even if free due to reciprocal licensing: 0501
• Good faith effort subject to abuse: 0501
• If a spec has an associated patent, there is a possibility that the patent holder might create extensions that are not available on RAND terms (but people would be locked in): 0532.
• Delayed enforcement of patents / unintended infringement is a problem. Threat of lawsuits from customers on developers may force developers to accept licenses: 0535
• Patent holders may start charging (or raise fees) at any time: 0696, 0700
• Policy would allow retroactive RAND terms on existing Recs: 0570
• Patent issue complexity will slow down work of W3C: 0580, 0740
• Definition of RAND is too loose: 0587, 0619, 0642
• Leaves existing WGs IPR status unclear: 0740

More miscellaneous concerns: 0047, 0055, 0059

October:

• RAND discriminates against small companies: 0007
• RAND discriminates against individuals: 0009
• RAND discriminates against academics: 0023
• RAND discriminates against small companies and individuals: 0040
• Can't easily draw the line between core technology and application layer: 0155, 0162, 1259, 1268, 1283, 1339, 1350, 1516
• Several detailed questions: 0184
• Concerns related to SVG: 0186
• Software patents unique to US law makes W3C policy US-centric: 0190
• Microsoft will not provide interoperable software: 0191
• Policy favors corporations that can afford patents: 0192
• W3C must follow their original goals: 0207
• Distinguishes open IETF to closed W3C: 0210
• Policy lacked input from sectors: 0221
• An exchange with D Weitzner: 0227
• Greedy and unethical to patent something already in use: 0238
• We don't need more patents, copyrights, lawyers or lawsuits: 0243
• Why does W3C want to do RAND activities? 0244
• Patented technology will encumber the free speech aspects of the Web: 0248
• Patented technology will make Web more expensive than alternatives: 0252
• Any royalties will eliminate all but large corporate players: 0253
• "What is '"reasonable"'? RF for non-profits. How to deal with miscreant members?": 0281
• Worries that SVG is already encumbered: 0317
• Thinks W3C ought to obtain its own patents: 0322
• Has several detailed questions about how RAND would be implemented: 0326
• Concerns if the royalty must be paid for distribution (e.g., w.r.t. GPL): 0344
• Definition of RAND is too loose: 0389, 1283, 1350
• Won't use SVG: 0425
• Won't pay fees for standards that he considers public domain: 0467
• Concerned that there is no provision for misuse of RAND: 0470
• Applies SVG patent: 0589
• Irrelevant to topic: 0609, 0591, 0654
• Gives US patents a global reach: 0663, 0606
• Discriminates against open source/free software: 0665, 0644, 0639, 0616, 0607
• Government greed: 0615
• Why isn't WSDL royalty-free? 0764
• "Reasonable" and "lower layer" not adequately defined; WG members will try to incorporate their patented technology in the WG's standards: 0793
• Vendors that require royalties attempt to control the industry, and has often ended with disaster: 0798
• W3C is basically charging royalty for Web page essentials (i.e. GIF images): 0807
• Question about prohibited use on Open Source platforms: 1287
• International concerns: 1350, 1368, 1398, 1415
• Concern for DRM and content control: 1386

More miscellaneous concerns: 0590, 1227

10. Miscellaneous comments

August:

• Unknown: 0000, 0003

September:

• RAND will destroy the Web: 0255
• Only RF: 0260
• No patents covering any standard: 0269
• Web must remain free: 0271
• Focus on RF interoperability: 0299
• RAND is suicide for W3C: 0305
• IETF model is RF: 0332, 0469, 0509
• Companies should make money on better products,not by shutting the door on competition: 0379
• There are plenty of proprietary standards. Why create just-another-format if it's also encumbered: 0466
• Standards should be for horizontal technology, and free. Let companies compete on vertical: 0544
• No comments: 0325, 0344, 0348, 0364, 0367, 0473, 0488, 0493, 0496, 0510, 0526, 0531, 0550, 0605, 0746
• Duplicate message: 0753

More miscellaneous comments: 0038, 0051

October:

• RAMBUS controversy lesson is contribute without strings attached: 0006
• RAND not justified (i.e., no rationale given) in PPWG documents: 0015
• Supports RAND, software patents and economic incentives: 0017
• PPWG document brings in a choice-of-law clause: 0033
• Proposes exemptions for individuals from RAND obligations and increasing patent disclosure obligations: 0043
• RAND language needs to be more precise to avoid lawyer-play that could permit even more restrictiveness: 0048
• It'll kill the Web, as commercial interests will overpower the common good: 0056
• Supports RAND patents; lets off steam about the BSD affaire: 0058
• Encourages RF only; proposes explicit description of effects of patent disclosure: W3C-to-public (official statement and disclaimer), and patent-owner-to-public/W3C (official statement): 0060
• Challenges 0017: 0062, 0068, 0071
• Companies should make money on better products, not by shutting the door on competition: 0096
• Explanation of benefit to Microsoft: 0121
• In support of Lilley 0060: 0132, 0139
• Comment from XML-DEV: 0163
• Comment on appropriateness of another message: 0170
• Software patents unique to US: 0190
• Misunderstood R Stallman's suggestions to change the name: 0200
• Thinks IETF would be better than W3C: 0204
• Patents will be misused: 0225
• Web costs enough already: 0235
• RAND okay but W3C needs to publish standards that are ready to use: 0237
• Omit all patented technology unless free: 0239
• De-commoditization of open protocols: 0240
• No product should become a standard: 0245
• Thinks RAND may be necessary: 0274
• (corrects previous message errors): 0277
• W3C can't hold patents because it is not a legal entity: 0289
• Trusts TimBL to do what is right for the Web: 0303
• What can non-professional do to prevent the W3C from supporting royalty based standards? 0337
• Challenge to make up of the PPWG: 0354
• IETF model is RF: 0365
• Edits of Last Call: 0378
• W3C needs a patent policy. Must be RF: 0379
• How (specifically) will this benefit the Web Development community? 0382
• Patents are US or nation-state centric: 0389
• W3C supported by EC where patents are difficult: 0394, 0406
• Talks about blocking patents: 0456
• Out of scope: 0457, 0497, 0919, 0928, 0939, 0942, 0943, 0948, 0954, 0956, 0962, 0967, 0998
• Calls for boycott of SVG: 0471
• Against "the proposed patenting of CSS and XML": 0483
• Stupid idea: 0597
• Strangling Web users: 0598
• Supports 0597: 0614
• Will kill the Web: 0617, 0618, 0627, 0655, 0660
• Must be a better way: 0604
• No comment visible: 0621
• Slippery slope: 0624
• RAND is bad: 0631, 0632, 0642, 0648
• Patents and standards are incompatible: 0634, 0638, 0645, 0647, 0651, 0652, 0653, 0657, 0658, 0668
• In favour of RAND: 0660
• Companies have to recover their investments in R&D, but hopes companies don't start to abuse and that nobody forks the Web: 0776
• Dell case is precedent against collecting royalties on "hidden" patents: 0781
• Needs clarity as to what's "low level": 0782
• Asks if he has paraphrased correctly: to prevent the W3C from becoming irrelevant, and to allow companies to point to their software as a "W3C Recommendation" and make a little or a lot of money at the same time: 0786
• Content has to be stored using open standards to be able to be transferred from one human generation to the next: 0800
• From a member of a standards body for avionics for commercial aircraft: proposals to introduce licensed technology into standards are always immediately and resoundingly rejected by the voting members of the general committee: 0802
• Consider "Sequential Innovation, Patents and Imitation" by MIT: 0810
• Responds to various points in the message from Gerald Lane of IBM: 0816
• Web is successful because of low cost: 0829
• Stronger disclosure rules: 0918
• Software patents not globally accepted: 0921
• Against fees on Web usage: 0936
• RAND-encumbered standards will burden businesses with higher costs, due to being restricted to proprietary, licensed solutions in lieu of open source: 0957
• Response to another email, suggesting that only non-IPR encumbered recommendations progress beyond draft status: 0961
• Infringes right to free speech: 0970
• The only reasonable definition of RAND is RF for free software: 0978
• There are plenty of proprietary standards. Why create just-another-format if it's also encumbered: 1315
• Patents are difficult in Europe: 1260, 1303
• Support of WASP article: 1263, 1267, 1299, 1376, 1475
• Comments on file formats, PAG: 1282
• Response to XML-DEV article: 1301, 1309
• Question on Essential Claims: 1264
• Offer both an RF and a RAND policy: 1320
• Safeguards to limit creation of RAND groups: 1347
• Benefit to Microsoft: 1382
• W3C needs a policy for when RAND is unavoidable: 1388
• Thanks for listening: 1406
• Clauses 3 and 6 mean that a W3C RF or RAND license can not include a restriction prohibiting use on open source operating systems: 1421
• Shame on you: 1423
• Open standards require open source: 1447
• It is important that companies have an opportunity to refuse to license their patents. Then the W3C must refuse to allow a standard to be dependent on that technology. 1451
• Move W3C to another country: 1453
• No way to predict with any certainty which of today's Recommendations will become the essential foundations of tomorrow's Web: 1454
• What the primary objectives of the policy should be: 1474
• RAND licensing may present antitrust issues. 1487

More miscellaneous comments: 0507, 0537, 0545, 0567, 0573, 0574, 0575, 0578, 0579, 0582, 1173, 1214, 1215, 1231, 1239, 1243

11. Suggestions

September:

• RAND has value: 0006
• No IP claims to standards unless always and forever free: 0243
• Licensing terms need to be disclosed: 0253
• Extensive suggestions: 0266
• No patents covering standards: 0269
• No standard is better than RAND standard: 0275
• Companies should get law firms to review policy to inform them what they are getting themselves into: 0292
• Need open source input: 0297
• Drop RAND and focus on interoperability: 0299
• Several suggestions: 0308
• Don't publish any specification where there is (known to exist) an essential claim: 0324
• Require that any RAND part be non-essential (and that there be an RF-alternative): 0370, 0453
• Allow RF for open source implementations: 0370, 0519, 0560, 0589, 0610, 0718
• If you are not prepared to disclose specific patents, you must offer an RF license: 0418
• Section 4, definition of infringed claim 0429:

  That should be immediately changed from "it is not possible" to "it is not practical". Otherwise, almost the entire document is moot.

• "Reasonable" is imprecise (0429). Proposal for fee:

  A 'reasonable' royalty must add no more than 5% to the development or production cost of the product, either individually or in sum of all licenses required. If the technology is incidental to the primary purpose of the product/product, that royalty shall be no more than 2%.

• Fee fixed percentage of profit: 0451
• Whatever the final policy, please be more explicit in acknowledging the impact on open source developers: 0460.
• Add a section requiring members to fully disclose any patent issues that might arise from the consideration of a W3C standard, and giving up licensing rights to the protocols listed in the standard if such disclosure is not made: 0489, 0642
• Section 4, clauses 4 and 5 create loophole (0501):

  These two clauses together create a loophole by which the holder of the patent burdening a W3C standard may forever bar any new players from implementing a W3C standard. All that would have to be done is to charge an exorbitant license fee (say a $100,000 flat fee -- a fee that is not unusual in established patent licensing practice) and allow the "patent swap" of clause 4 to take effect.

• Require disclosure of third-party patents: 0501
• The W3C patent policy should not be RAND, it should be GPL: 0650
• Permit only RF WGs: 0717, 0718, 0736
• Editorial: 0005

October:

• Extend comments and Last Call periods: 0000
• If you are not prepared to disclose specific patents, you must offer an RF license: 0101
• Don't publish any specification where there is (known to exist) an essential claim: 0101, 0104, 0106, 0109, 0115, 0116, 0345, 0357, 0371, 0416, 0374, 0380, 1322, 1378, 1397, 1499
• If a company wants something sanctioned by W3C is should submit a free version of the standard: 0167
• Make it simple - RF only: 0207, 1420
• Royalties only to profits received by developer: 0208
• Exception to RAND for open source implementations: 0217
• Several suggestions: 0222
• RF unless opted out: 0232
• Require RF for GPL software: 0268, 0293, 0297, 0304, 0306, 0320
• Proposes patents be transferred to W3C: 0335
• Eternal waiver of RAND license fee: 0339
• Require disclosure of third-party patents: 0345, 1302
• Fund W3C voluntarily: 0352
• Require waiver of claims: 0368
• Ban from W3C organizations who fail to disclose: 0390
• Make the W3C better than it was before, by changing its charter to include representatives from the public sector: open source developers, the EFF, FSF and others: 0451
• Concerned about bogus patents, suggests: 1) exclude 'design' patents (although your FAQ defines patents, it doesn't seem to define design patents, even although it is a term you use) 2) strengthen the 'good faith' disclosure standards, and (if I understand the proposals correctly) considerably reduce the response time so that new patents trivially building on emerging standards can not be taken out: 0475
• W3C should be working on RF alternative to JPEG-2000, but hasn't shown any interest in MNG: 0752
• Proposes wording to amend RAND definition to provide a special exception for free software: 0753
• Proposes opening W3C Membership to all developers for $50: 0791
• W3C should set a clear standard for royalty-free licensing which makes it impossible for the patent holder to change the terms of the license: 0796
• Proposed wording to deal with patents which are revealed after a Recommendation has been adopted/implemented: 0983
• Change to 4.(a)2: 1251
• Idea for submarine patents: 1278
• Idea for sliding scale: 1279
• Search of portfolio should be required: 1286
• Patent holders that wish their IPR to be standardized must then offer RF (the cost of standardization): 1306
• Language for clause 5 from OSI: 1310
• Require that no proposal may become a W3C standard unless it is backed by an Open Source reference implementation on an Open Source platform, with patent grants (OSI): 1310
• In the majority of cases, RF is to be preferred. Keep RAND option: 1327
• Add a section requiring members to fully disclose any patent issues that might arise from the consideration of a W3C standard, and giving up licensing rights to the protocols listed in the standard if such disclosure is not made: 1339, 1411
• Permit only RF WGs: 1347, 1373, 1378, 1384, 1395, 1398, 1409, 1508
• W3C languages should be freely usable: 1341
• In support of OSI (1310): 1344, 1351
• Remove clause 3 in RF definition: 1354
• W3C could have individual Memberships: 1370
• Involve community in found patents: 1395, 1411
• Language for sections 2,7,8: 1398
• Search of portfolio should be required: 1398
• W3C could have individual Memberships: 1411
• Label Recommendations like cigarette packs: 1414
• Allow RF for free software: 1416, 1452
• Consequences for Member found in violation of the disclosure clauses of the disclosure policy: 1450
• The PAG mechanism of section 6 should be maintained. PAG should help when a patent is discovered late in the standardization process: 1451
• Contributors to W3C standards must be compelled to disclose: 1459
• Require that participants clarify whether disclosed patents are essential technology: 1459
• Require license of subsequently-discovered Essential Claims under the intended license of the Recommendation, not only a 'RAND' license. 1465
• RAND and RF licensing should not be on equal footing. RAND should be discouraged. 1465
• "No implied knowledge shall be imputed" should be changed to "All implied knowledge shall be imputed as a rebuttal presumption": 1467
• Essential Claims should include those claims which are filed before publication of the first public Working Draft: 1467
• Proposals to alleviate discriminatory effects of a RAND-based policy: 1478
• Forbid Member who does not disclose a patent held or submitted impeding a W3C standard in progress from implementing and publicizing conformance: 1482
• Language for entering a Working Group: 1496
• Advice to PPWG to consider every post (tried to compile them): 1509

More suggestions: 0043, 0060, 0512, 0659, 1174, 1228

Copyright © 2001-2002 W3C^® (MIT, INRIA, Keio), All Rights Reserved. W3C liability, trademark, document use and software licensing rules apply. Your interactions with this site are in accordance with our public and Member privacy statements.