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posted by takyon on Tuesday September 19 2017, @12:37AM   Printer-friendly
from the community-consensus dept.

Submitted via IRC for boru

Dear Jeff, Tim, and colleagues, In 2013, EFF was disappointed to learn that the W3C had taken on the project of standardizing "Encrypted Media Extensions," an API whose sole function was to provide a first-class role for DRM within the Web browser ecosystem. By doing so, the organization offered the use of its patent pool, its staff support, and its moral authority to the idea that browsers can and should be designed to cede control over key aspects from users to remote parties.

[...] The W3C is a body that ostensibly operates on consensus. Nevertheless, as the coalition in support of a DRM compromise grew and grew — and the large corporate members continued to reject any meaningful compromise — the W3C leadership persisted in treating EME as topic that could be decided by one side of the debate. In essence, a core of EME proponents was able to impose its will on the Consortium, over the wishes of a sizeable group of objectors — and every person who uses the web. The Director decided to personally override every single objection raised by the members, articulating several benefits that EME offered over the DRM that HTML5 had made impossible.

[...] We believe they will regret that choice. Today, the W3C bequeaths an legally unauditable attack-surface to browsers used by billions of people. They give media companies the power to sue or intimidate away those who might re-purpose video for people with disabilities. They side against the archivists who are scrambling to preserve the public record of our era. The W3C process has been abused by companies that made their fortunes by upsetting the established order, and now, thanks to EME, they'll be able to ensure no one ever subjects them to the same innovative pressures.

[...] Effective today, EFF is resigning from the W3C.

Thank you,

Cory Doctorow
Advisory Committee Representative to the W3C for the Electronic Frontier Foundation

Source: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/09/open-letter-w3c-director-ceo-team-and-membership


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  • (Score: 2) by Wootery on Tuesday September 19 2017, @01:03PM (1 child)

    by Wootery (2341) on Tuesday September 19 2017, @01:03PM (#570168)

    Mr. Berners-Lee

    My my, the Interwebs tell me you're right. I'd always assumed he had a PhD.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 19 2017, @03:57PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 19 2017, @03:57PM (#570228)

    Crazier yet, Cory Doctorow isn't a doctor either.