Being Open About Standards

Neelie Kroes, European Commissioner for Competition Policy

8/07/2008
(Original Publish Date: 6/10/2008)

Address to OpenForum Europe by EU Commissioner for Competition, arguing that credible competition policy in technology markets requires not only enforcement but proactive standards policy grounded in evidence, economics, and experience. Emphasizing the central role of interoperability, the speech contrasts non-proprietary and proprietary standards, warning that excessive reliance on proprietary technologies especially where protected by opaque patents, copyrights, or trade secrets can entrench lock-in, distort competition, and perpetuate exclusion without commensurate innovation benefits.