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Is W3C's proposal to allow fees for Internet standards a recipe for Web disaster?

By Amanda C. Kooser •

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Technology patents exist, and the Web is built on technology.Those basic concepts are combining to cause a swirl of controversy.The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), the standards-making body ofthe Web, has proposed allowing patent holders to charge fees fortechnologies that become part of the Web standards. Proponents sayit's the sensible thing to do. Opponents say it will sabotagethe open foundations on which the Web is built.

Up till now, "www" has meant "free for all."Web standards such as HTML can be used royalty-free. All currentstandards are either nonpatented technology, or the companiesdon't enforce the patents.

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