This is exactly why standard bodies need to adopt a "scorched earth" NO PATENTS policy. What good is a standardized way of doing things, if a standards body has to say: "Use this, but pay Robber Baron Companies X, Y and Z a fee for the privilege."
Drop the RAND policies and adopt a strict NO PATENTS stance. Go further than that and declare any ongoing standardization process dead if patent claims arise and refuse to standardize anything that might fall under a patent. Reconsider only when the claiming party assigns the patent to an open, world-wide and royalty free patent pool.
The industry needs to feel the hurt when it comes to Intellectual Terrorism. Either support standards, no strings attached or suffer proprietary incompatibility.
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Standard bodies need to reform.
Posted by: Ronald Trip on June 30, 2006 06:29 PMDrop the RAND policies and adopt a strict NO PATENTS stance. Go further than that and declare any ongoing standardization process dead if patent claims arise and refuse to standardize anything that might fall under a patent. Reconsider only when the claiming party assigns the patent to an open, world-wide and royalty free patent pool.
The industry needs to feel the hurt when it comes to Intellectual Terrorism. Either support standards, no strings attached or suffer proprietary incompatibility.
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