HP, Apple Drop Support for Royalties on Web Standards
Posted by
michael
on from the peer-pressure-works dept.
Medeii writes: "This article on CNET states that Apple and HP have both decided to withdraw their support for the recommendation. Both companies issued statements supporting the development of royalty-free web standards. Both were, interestingly, also authors of the current recommendation."
Of course, the good question is... Will this be a case where Apple and HP drop support publically and the issue dissapears (And then quietly reappears 6 months later in a different form) or the case where Apple and HP drop support publically and it just goes on as if nothing happened (Like Adobe's dropping support of suing for Acrobat-Crackers);)
Some major companies have enough trouble conforming to free web standards as it is and break and make their own standards. Creating standards that require royalties to use will just make companies do things their own way even more.
Re:Definately a Surprise
by
firewort
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
Carly must have realized that you can't make profits when paying fees to use everyone else's patents!
I'm pleased that Apple chose this route as a customer, and dissapointed that IBM hasn't, as an employee. Not surprised, just disappointed.
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Re:Good for them
by
dinotrac
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
Corporations aren't usually known for doing the right thing simply because it's, well, the right thing.
Sometimes they do, but I doubt that's the case here, not that it matters.
I have no doubt that a careful re-examination of the issue should have made them realize that each has more to lose than to gain with RAND standards.
First, it's impossible to devise a non-discriminatory standard that imposes a royalty fee. The receiver of the royalties always has the advantage.
Second, such a system, by favoring the biggest players (as they are the ones likely to finagle the largest number of such standards), it would favor the status quo. Not so bad if you're Microsoft or IBM or even Sun. Less wonderful if you're HP or Apple.
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Of course, the good question is... Will this be a case where Apple and HP drop support publically and the issue dissapears (And then quietly reappears 6 months later in a different form) or the case where Apple and HP drop support publically and it just goes on as if nothing happened (Like Adobe's dropping support of suing for Acrobat-Crackers) ;)
Gentoo Sucks
Some major companies have enough trouble conforming to free web standards as it is and break and make their own standards. Creating standards that require royalties to use will just make companies do things their own way even more.
Outdoor digital photography, mostly in New Engl
Carly must have realized that you can't make profits when paying fees to use everyone else's patents!
I'm pleased that Apple chose this route as a customer, and dissapointed that IBM hasn't, as an employee. Not surprised, just disappointed.
Corporations aren't usually known for doing the right thing simply because it's, well, the right thing.
Sometimes they do, but I doubt that's the case here, not that it matters.
I have no doubt that a careful re-examination of the issue should have made them realize that each has more to lose than to gain with RAND standards.
First, it's impossible to devise a non-discriminatory standard that imposes a royalty fee. The receiver of the royalties always has the advantage.
Second, such a system, by favoring the biggest players (as they are the ones likely to finagle the largest number of such standards), it would favor the status quo. Not so bad if you're Microsoft or IBM or even Sun. Less wonderful if you're HP or Apple.