xmlhack: W3C invites Open Source, Free Software to Patent Policy WG

Daniel Weitzner announced the addition of invited experts to the W3C Patent Policy Working Group, as well as steps to make the process of developing that policy more public.

Joining the WG will be Eben Moglen, General Counsel to the Free Software Foundation, and Bruce Perens, co-founder of the Open Source Initiative.

The W3C is also making some drastic changes in the way the Patent Policy will proceed. Instead of the private working group issuing single draft marked "This Last Call period will be the only opportunity for public comment", the working group will now have a public page on the W3C site, at least one more public draft of the Patent Policy, and public drafts of all future work.

In addition to making the Patent Policy WG more like an ordinary W3C working group, Weitzner promised:

"Public summaries of working group meetings and conference calls: After each meeting of the Working Group, we will circulate a public summary of the issues discussed."

Weitzner is also taking an interview from Slashdot and will be participating in a Town Hall meeting at XML 2001.