Posted on 04/12/2002 4:02:59 PM PDT by rdb3
IBM and Microsoft have been quietly busy behind the scenes for the last two years building a toll booth that could position the two companies to collect royalties on most if not all Internet traffic. While the technologies that form the foundation of that toll booth have yet to be officially recognized as standards by an independent standards body, the collective strength of IBM and Microsoft could be enough to render Internet standards consortia powerless to stop them.
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If the protocols do become standards, either by virtue of an independent standards organization's imprimatur or by attaining a de facto status, IBM and Microsoft--or any other company that maintains the intellectual property rights to them--could legally impose royalties on that traffic. In fact, any protocols that become a part of the core Internet infrastructure without having been made available on a royalty-free basis could guarantee the owners of the intellectual property the right to place a tax on the Internet traffic that depends on those protocols.
No standard policy
For the most part, standards-setting for the Internet and Web has taken place within the working groups of two organizations: the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Until recently, neither organization had maintained a policy requiring vendors to make the intellectual property (IP) they contribute to the standards setting process available on a royalty-free basis. According to W3C Patent Policy Working Group Chairman Danny Weitzner, "Despite the lack of a policy, there has always been an understanding amongst the various contributors that the Internet and the Web wouldn't be possible or scalable unless their contributions were available to everyone on a royalty-free basis."
But that gentleman's agreement has been tested several times over the years and it could end up being tested again by Microsoft and IBM. According to documents on the W3C's Web site, IBM and Microsoft not only own intellectual property within specific Web services protocols, but also have no intentions of relinquishing their IP rights to those protocols should they become standards. The documents indicate that the two companies are currently maintaining their rights to pursue a reasonable and non-discriminatory (RAND) licensing framework as opposed to a royalty-free-based framework. The RAND framework is widely acknowledged as the one that keeps a vendor's options open in terms of being able to charge content developers and Internet users a royalty for usage of relevant intellectual property.
You talk about hubris! This is MS AND IBM. Yet you only say "anti-Microsoft propaganda." This is the reason why the word "shill" is thrown around. You offered no explanation to back up your claim, then totally ignored the other company mentioned.
Wow.
I'm not overly concerned with it, but this did come from a tech site. Therefore, it didn't warrant a posting in the "humor forum."
Why would the entire Internet change protocols that have worked so well and have to pay money to do it? Besides, if you think MS had anti-trust problems with their browser bundling practices, just think of the lawsuits that would tie them up for years concerning this.
Sorry, but the article is supposed to backup its own ridiculous claims. Do you really believe anything that is anti-MS?
This is true. But it does cause concern if they're thinking about it.
That doesn't sound right. If you substitute the word "everything" for your "anything," then that would make sense. And if this was what you were getting at, the answer is no. I recognize MS hit pieces simply for the sake of bashing MS. But this article didn't do that.
You claimed that it was "propaganda." You have anything that can be documented that says otherwise? Or do you believe everything is good about MS?
Quickly! Make up your mind.
Well they all probably do shop carefully and alternatives are appearing . On the Kudlow & Cramer CNBC show last night they were discussing how long before AOL follows the rest of the companies into Internet.com heaven.
Didn't catch all of it but I think in the NY area someone is offering a very similiar service for 14.95 monthly and is having explosive growth!
Two words: license fees. Goes down better with the consumers than "royalties".
Bingo!
Mostly sound and fury so far.
If IBM and MS can come up with something that makes me want to part with my money....
more power to them.
I have just a little, tiny bit of knowledge of such things and I'll tell you that this article is nothing more than a writer needing a piece to submit by a certain deadline (I'm giving the writer the benefit of a doubt) rather than a true "heads up".
Not to worry.
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