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Take Resource Description Framework, an XML-based system to let programs access Web items, be they songs, photos, or basic Web pages and graphics. It seemed like RDF was all set. After all, it had already made it to the acronym stage and got the ultimate endorsement: It had been declared a W3C standard. That's like God himself telling you you're okay.

Now a commercial company is laying claim to what we all thought was in the public domain. Unified Data Technologies believes the standard infringes on one of its patents, and it wants dough from products that support RDF. I know this news tends to bring out the open-source, free-technology freak in all of us. And it's easy to say Unified Data is just being greedy and that these technologies belong to us all.

But look at it this way. Perhaps one key employee read extra books in high school, worked his way through college, had an idea and then slaved for months to see it through. Doesn't that fellow, or his company, deserve a little compensation? Also keep in mind that most royalties sought by patent holders are small, maybe 1 to 5 percent of a product's price -- and that's only if the patent covers a substantial part of the product's design. So maybe, just maybe, Unified Data deserves a piece of the action.

Glitch or Secret Plot?

Recently Windows XP users have had problems using AOL's cable modem service. Microsoft and AOL are working on the problem that reportedly affects a small number of folks. What makes me a mite suspicious is that Windows and AOL have never truly gotten along, usually because of Windows' inability to support the AOL client or AOL's messing with key Windows files. Seems like these two companies need to spend a bit more time sharing information during product development -- like that will ever happen!

AOL Fixes Mess(ages)

Meanwhile, back at the AOL ranch, the company has fixed a hole in Instant Messenger that allowed hackers to exploit the shared game invitation feature. Instead of inviting friends to a rousing game of Doom, hackers could run malicious code. Dang. Now I have one more reason to stay away from instant messaging.

Stomach-Turning Film

A recently released fake documentary begins with the murder of Microsoft founder Bill Gates. You could be the biggest Linux/Mac/Amiga bigot and still be appalled and offended by this film. Taking a real person, any real person, and bumping them off on film is an outrage. And with Bill's notoriety, some knucklehead somewhere just might think this is a good idea.