W3c Extends Comment Period For Patent Proposal

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Some people are interpreting this as an attempt by large corporations to grab the web, others see it as an opportunity for developers to get their fair share. It would probably fall somewhere in the middle.

The W3C are specifically looking for feedback concerning three different issues. Quoting from a message posted October 1:

As the proposed policy includes proposals such as:

• a requirement for disclosure provisions ( href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-patent-policy-20010816/#sec-disclosure" target="_new" title="W3C W3C Patent Policy Framework, Section 7">Section
  7);
• a procedure for launching new standards development activities as
  Royalty-Free Licensing Mode activities (sections href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-patent-policy-20010816/#sec-definitions" target="_new" title="W3C W3C Patent Policy Framework, Section 4">4 and href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-patent-policy-20010816/#sec-mode" target="_new" title="W3C W3C Patent Policy Framework, Section 5">5);
• a procedure for launching new standards development activities as
  Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory (RAND) Licensing Mode activities
  (sections href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-patent-policy-20010816/#sec-definitions" target="_new" title="W3C W3C Patent Policy Framework, Definition 4">4 and href="http://www.w3.org/TR/2001/WD-patent-policy-20010816/#sec-mode" target="_new" title="W3C W3C Patent Policy Framework, Definition 5">5);

Some Links

• The draft proposal
• A synopsis of the proposed policy with some additional background information (provided by the W3C)
• An in-depth discussion with some proposed changes
• The address for mailing comments: www-patentpolicy-comment@w3.org
• The archive of received comments