On Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:05:27 -0500 Peter Brown <[email protected]> wrote:
> From: http://www.fsf.org/news/reoppose-tls-authz-standard > > Last January, the Free Software Foundation issued an alert to efforts > at the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) to sneak a > patent-encumbered standard for "TLS authorization" through a > back-door approval process that was referenced as "experimental" or > "informational". The many comments sent to IETF at that time alerted > committee members to this attempt and successfully prevented the > standard gaining approval. > > Unfortunately, attempts to push through this standard have been > renewed and become more of a threat. The proposal now at the IETF > has a changed status from "experimental" to "proposed standard". The > FSF is again issuing an alert and request for comments to be sent > urgently and prior to the February 11 deadline to: [email protected] > > Please include us in your message by a CC to [email protected] > > That patent in question is claimed by RedPhone Security. RedPhone has > given a license to anyone who implements the protocol, but they still > threaten to sue anyone that uses it. > > If our voice is strong enough, the IETF will not approve this standard > on any level unless the patent threat is removed entirely with a > royalty-free license for all users. > > > Further background for your comment: > > 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. > > > Media Contacts > > Peter T. Brown > Executive Director > Free Software Foundation > (617)542-5942 -- Value your freedom, or you will lose it, teaches history. ``Don't bother us with politics,'' respond those who don't want to learn. -- Richard M. Stallman http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/linux-gnu-freedom.html
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