In 1993, Sir Tim Berners-Lee fundamentally changed humanity by releasing the World Wide Web as a free, open-source technology. While working at CERN, he developed the essential foundations of the modern internet—including HTML, HTTP, and the first web browser—to solve the problem of disconnected computer systems. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Berners-Lee famously refused to patent his invention. While rival platforms like Gopher saw their influence decline after proposing licensing fees, his decision to keep the web royalty-free prevented a fragmented digital ecosystem and allowed developers and businesses to innovate without financial barriers. By giving the web to the world for free, Berners-Lee enabled the rise of global startups, digital industries, and the modern knowledge economy. His legacy serves as a profound example of how prioritizing open technology and human connection can have a far greater global impact than the pursuit of personal wealth.

In 1993, Sir Tim Berners-Lee fundamentally changed humanity by releasing the World Wide Web as a free, open-source technology. While working at CERN, he developed the essential foundations of the modern internet—including HTML, HTTP, and the first web browser—to solve the problem of disconnected computer systems. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Berners-Lee famously refused to patent his invention. While rival platforms like Gopher saw their influence decline after proposing licensing fees, his decision to keep the web royalty-free prevented a fragmented digital ecosystem and allowed developers and businesses to innovate without financial barriers. By giving the web to the world for free, Berners-Lee enabled the rise of global startups, digital industries, and the modern knowledge economy. His legacy serves as a profound example of how prioritizing open technology and human connection can have a far greater global impact than the pursuit of personal wealth.