W3C goes after Apple on HTML5 patenting
The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) has put out a call for prior art request in hopes of invalidating patents Apple has applied for over the HTML5 standard. At issue are two patents Apple holds which describes how mobile apps can request sensitive material, according to ComputerWorld.
The W3C's issue with these patents is that, if Apple is allowed to hold them, HTML5 developers who use the technologies will need to pay royalties to Apple. The W3C says that those specific technologies are already part of the royalty-free HTML5 stack and thus encompasses web standards that can be used without paying royalties to any company.
As a member of the W3C, many feel Apple should provide a royalty free license for the patents in question -- something Apple has yet to do or even comment on. Until Apple does so, the W3C hopes to find examples of the technologies in Apple's patents that were in use before Apple patented them. Proof of pre-patent use would invalidate Apple's patents, thus allowing the technologies to be rolled into the HTML5 standard and be used royalty free.
