It is interesting the author chose the title of the article to be:
MTConnect, an open, tax-free internet communications technologies based on proven communications standards
I guess never thought of the other attempts at a standard for manufacturing equipment communication as a tax, but that is a very accurate way to think about it. I always use the term "Country Club Protocols" that most of the manufacturing equipment vendors where you had to pay to join the club and then pay to play for each device out on the course. A tax is an interesting and possibly better way to convey this to individuals who are new to MTConnect. After all, who wants to pay taxes?
