How does open source licensing compare to other standardization options?
A1. There are various approaches towards standardization: Traditional formal standards organizations are experienced in consensus-based processes. Membership is open to all and everyone gets an equal say. Some members sincerely want the standard to succeed. Unfortunately, committees are routinely populated by individuals who want the standard to fail, exacerbating already slow progress. Closed proprietary standards, owned by a single company are available only to that company’s customers. They are fast to evolve and well-supported. Other vendors are not allowed to use them, greatly reducing tool interoperability and forcing customers to create translators. Licensing by a standards company is a way to transfer closed standards into the public. A standards company obtains legal rights and funding from the owner to create a standard through licensing, usually with fees and generally to all comers. With limited resources and expertise, the licensor may struggle to bring out a standard quic
