Re: Intel's page on i20

["Norm" <normanmo@clark.net>]

On Wed, 15 Apr 1998 04:34:42 -0400 (EDT), James Love wrote:

>>      "Using an open, standardized approach"???  Who do they think
>> they're fooling.  'I20' is more like a technological version of the
>> 'good ol boys' club.  The technology itself sounds like a good idea,
>> but to calling it "open" is a flat out lie.
>
>   In what sense is it closed?  Can anyone join, at any time?


     Anyone can join the group, for hefty a price ($5000/yr, $2000/yr
for 'associate members') that is (a definite problem for 'free
software' developers and small 'startup' companies...see
http://www.kenandted.com/i2o/).  But not only is it going to cost a
'pretty penny', IIRC your membership in the group can also be easily
terminated by other members (who are often current or potential
competitors).

     In all fairness there has been some talk about opening the specs
to 'free software' developers, but to my knowledge it's still only talk
so there still may be barriers in place in the end.  I've read a 1995
copy of their agreement (http://www.i2osig.org/Agreement.html), and
although there's a mention that the final specs might be made public I
can find no such promise in their 'agreement'.  As a matter of fact if
you read the agreement you'll notice that the area under 'Publication'
has been left blank.

 ...Cheers,

 ...Norm

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