Dear IETF For all the reasons below, and because not even eternal vigilance will buy us freedom if what is said is said behind closed doors, please do not approve TLS authorisation as a standard. 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 Very late in the discussion, a company called RedPhone Security disclosed (this disclosure has subsequently been unpublished from the IETF website) that they applied for a patent which would need to be licensed to anyone wanting to practice the standard.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. Yours faithfully, Morgan Read -- Morgan Read 19 Clarke Road Onehunga AUCKLAND 1061 P +64-9-634.6338 M +64-21-732.363 E <mailto:mstuff@xxxxxxxxxxx> W <http://www.read.org.nz> Confused about DRM? Get all the info you need at: http://drm.info _______________________________________________ Ietf@xxxxxxxx https://www.ietf.org/mailman/listinfo/ietf