Openness is not something one actor decrees. It is something promoted by a whole ecosystem. If W3C is the only opponent to DRMs, yes, it won't amount to enough resistance. If Firefox alone refuses to implement W3C-approved DRM standards, yes, it won't amount to enough resistance.
But if Apple does a DRM tech in Safari, that it is not approved by W3C, that it is not implemented in Firefox, how do you think they will get it into Chrome and IE? Heh, they'll have to pay a lot of money to Google and MS, or to accept reciprocal agreements, segmenting their markets, complicating the development of their tech.
It will slow them down, like it has so far. And if it slows them enough that they move slower than the tech they want to regulate, we win.
So yes, the W3C is just a stone thrown in the middle of the stream, trying to slow it down. It won't make much by itself. But at least it knows it wants to be a part of the dam.
But if Apple does a DRM tech in Safari, that it is not approved by W3C, that it is not implemented in Firefox, how do you think they will get it into Chrome and IE? Heh, they'll have to pay a lot of money to Google and MS, or to accept reciprocal agreements, segmenting their markets, complicating the development of their tech.
It will slow them down, like it has so far. And if it slows them enough that they move slower than the tech they want to regulate, we win.
So yes, the W3C is just a stone thrown in the middle of the stream, trying to slow it down. It won't make much by itself. But at least it knows it wants to be a part of the dam.