Why do the proposed usage guidelines restrict use of the icon to open formats? Won’t that stifle innovation in future applications of web syndication formats?

We don’t believe so. We believe our proposed approach is consistent with encouraging innovation, for the following reasons: • The usage guidelines as proposed do not have a restrictive definition of the formats and protocols with which the icon may be used. In particular, the guidelines do not restrict use of the icon to the present-day RSS or Atom formats; in addition, the guidelines do not rule out the use of protocols other than HTTP to deliver web feeds. • The usage guidelines as proposed do not rule out techniques like using proprietary media types for content items within a web feed published using an open web syndication format. Granted, if taken to an extreme such practices would lessen the usefulness of having open formats, but that’s a question for the broader community to consider in interpreting and evolving the guidelines. • Finally, the guidelines are not legally binding. If you believe that the goal of innovation requires your defining and using partly or completely ...  more