“The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C)… is investigating the
status of a patent claim which threatens open access to privacy
protection technology known as the Platform for Privacy Preferences
(P3P). To aid in its investigative efforts, W3C is calling on the
Web Community for help in locating “prior art,” technology whose
existence could be relevant to the validity of the patent.
“There are growing incompatibilities between patents and open
standards; the trend towards filing patents in areas where
standards are already underway is cause for both concern and
action,” stated Daniel J. Weitzner, Technology and Society Domain
Leader of W3C. “The Web and developer communities can be
instrumental in providing the evidence required to render
questionable patents invalid, thereby maintaining an open Web.”
“Intermind recently received a U.S. patent, and has indicated
that the patent may be infringed upon by W3C metadata standards,
particularly P3P. The patent covers storage and transfer of
“consumer” and “provider” information between two computers using a
metadata control structure. Intermind has further stated that its
“patents cover numerous additional features” of other
communications technologies.”