[LINK] Patents and the W3C

[hartr@redhat.com]

On  1 Oct, geert wrote:

> I went to the w3c site and couldn't make out if the patent policy framework
> proposed here has any relation to  content or if it is only related to
> software/web standards. Freelance content producers who work on the Net
> who(like me) would hughly benefit from a fee standard.

I think one of us is seriously confused here. As I read this information
about patents and W3C, this move will do absolutely nothing to protect
and reward content, which is what you seem concerned about.

The aim of this move is to allow patentable technology into the
standard. This will require that servers and browser implementations
will need ot obtain a licence to use the technology.

> I think that those
> worried about free software should take the legitimate concerns of those who
> finally wanna get paid for their work into account and build a coalition
> instead just screaming free free free.

Let me remind you that I work for a *for profit* corporation - we are
just as interested as anyone about getting paid.

You should also remember that the 'free' in 'free software' is NOT a
statement of price, but a statement of rights. Nowhere on the Free
Software web site (http://www/fsf.org) does it say that software must be
cost free - but there is much about rights in relation to software.

The issue with the W3C proposal is of CONTROL vs FREEDOM, not of dollars
vs cost free...as is alwys the case with 'free software'.

Remember - free software is only cost free if your time has no value!

-- 
Robert Hart						 hartr@redhat.com
Red Hat Asia-Pacific, Unit 15, 23 James St, Brisbane, Qld 4006, Australia
Tel +61 (0)7 3872 4808                             Fax +61 (0)7 3257 4800