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Group, Much of the communication on the Internet happens between
computers according to standards that define common languages. If we are
going to live in a free world using free software, our software must be
allowed to speak these languages. Unfortunately, discussions about possible new standards
are tempting opportunities for people who would prefer to profit by extending
proprietary control over our communities. If someone holds a software patent on
a technique that a programmer or user has to use in order to make use of a
standard, then no one is free without getting permission from and paying the
patent holder. If we are not careful, standards can become major barriers to
computer users having and exercising their freedom. We depend on organizations like the Internet Engineering
Task Force (IETF) and the Internet Engineering Steering Group (IESG)
to evaluate new proposals for standards and make sure that they are not
encumbered by patents or any other sort of restriction that would prevent free
software users and programmers from participating in the world they define. In February 2006, a standard for "TLS
authorization" was introduced in the IETF for consideration. Very late in
the discussion, a company called RedPhone Security disclosed (this disclosure
has subsequently been unpublished from the IETF website) that they applied for
a patent which would need to be licensed to anyone wanting to practice the
standard. After this disclosure, the proposal was rejected. Despite claims that RedPhone have offered a license for
implementation of this protocol, users of this protocol would still be
threatened by the patent. The IETF should continue to oppose this standard
until RedPhone provide a royalty-free license for all users. Regards, Charles
R. Partridge, Columbus,
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