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>Why do they call him 'Sir'?

Because that's what you do when someone is a Knight?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee#Awards_and_hon...

You misunderstood the question. He is asking why are they honoring his title as Knight in Switzerland, when noble titles are usually abolished in republics.

A good example of this can be seen in the Constitution of the US. "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."

This is a private company's communication, not official Swiss usage. Nor is he being afforded privileges or rights arising from his title, beyond the use of 'Sir'. The 'proper' usage also would have added his titles after his name - OM KBE (Order of Merit & Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire)

>No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States

It was the Queen who granted him the title, not Switzerland.

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