Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory ( RAND ) is the term used in standardization processes.
In the general case, this means that companies that join the standardization process agree that if they receive any patents for technologies that are part of the standard, then they allow others to use these patents on the same terms, and also that if there are restrictions that will be reasonable.
Such licensing makes it possible to charge users of patents a “reasonable” fee for each customer, and therefore may not be compatible with the concept of software freedom . The Free Software Foundation proposes to replace the term with “ uniform fee only ”, abbreviated as “ UFO ”. [one]
Notes
- ↑ “RAND (reasonable and non-discriminatory)” . Words to Avoid (or Use with Care) Because They Are Loaded or Confusing . Free Software Foundation, Inc. (November 20, 2012). Date of treatment January 27, 2013. Archived February 3, 2012.