On Wed, 2004-09-22 at 16:29, Greg Connor wrote:
Overall, very well stated.
[snip]
However:
To the rest of the WG I say: we have been fooled once by the likes of MS;
let's not let it happen again.
This makes it sound like that it took this event to teach people. I
pretty much refrained from any so-called Microsoft-bashing on this
list. But over and over and over again, I find that people who claim
that we should give the company the benefit of the doubt, forget one
very important point: there is no doubt. Microsoft's goals in regards
to patents, the GPL, and FOSS in general are a matter of public record.
The company was only living up to what their executives have said in the
press. This WG chose to ignore that, instead prohibiting any discussion
of so-called "hidden" agenda. It wasn't hidden at all.
I am also disappointed at the putting off of the extremely important
non-technical IPR issue until it was too late. The members of IETF,
wanting to be faithful to the 'E' in the name, naturally want to
concentrate on engineering issues at least primarily, but even ONLY
engineering, if that's possible. I would like to suggest that if that
is the desire, it is an impossibility. You cannot compartmentalize your
work that way. Especially in today's world.
I would like to admonish everyone here that if we are going to involve
Microsoft AT ALL in any future MTA authorization efforts to remain
extremely wary. The company has shown its colors. Richard Stallman was
right and frankly, at least in this particular instance, should not have
been silenced. EXPECT it to happen again and do not accept anything
less that full disclosure of ALL IPR. And show an unwaivering
preference for unencumbered technologies. Don't wait until all
technical matters are worked out. I'm not saying 'to hell with
procedure'. I'm just cautioning against letting anyone waste a colossal
amount of our time again.
--
-Paul Iadonisi
Senior System Administrator
Red Hat Certified Engineer / Local Linux Lobbyist
Ever see a penguin fly? -- Try Linux.
GPL all the way: Sell services, don't lease secrets