OPEN MICROSOFT
Microsoft step
over the mark
Announcements from
decisions on how they integrate into
Microsoft earlier this year
Microsoft products.”
“We still have patent licence
will go down as a watershed
programs but we now have a patent
for the company and its
map clearly showing what patents are
relationship with the EC
related to what program protocols.”
and US DOJ.
“As well as removing the licence
restrictions we are also extending the
detail to include file format information
T
he announcements, Microsoft and most importantly including
claim, take them past what the Microsoft Office products.”
regulators have been asking for As well as opening up access
and out in front of all the major software further Microsoft are also extending
vendors in opening up their software to the support to developers. Bob Morris
the developer world. explains, “Anybody who downloads
Bob Morris
the documentation can get support
In essence Microsoft made 5 on-line both directly from Microsoft staff
commitments: and also via forums. We will also be additional opportunity to innovate and
n To ensure openness to Microsoft’s running ‘Plug Fests’ and ‘Interop Labs’ deliver value for customers."
high volume products where developers can come and meet One of the key initiatives by
n To document how Microsoft Microsoft engineers and go through the Microsoft in this move to interoperability
supports industry standards protocols in detail.” has been the setting up of the Interop
and extensions Microsoft believes that these Vendor Alliance, a cross-industry
n To enhance Office 2007 to announcements not only meet the group of global software and hardware
provide greater flexibility of EEC law but exceeds it as Bob Morris vendors and other organizations
document formats explains, “We are clear from our that work together to enhance
n The launch of the Open Source discussions with the EC and DOJ interoperability with Microsoft systems
Interoperability Initiative that we conform to their laws with on behalf of their customers.
n To expand industry outreach these announcements. However we “As well as the IVA, Microsoft is
and dialogue have gone a lot further than their working with all the ‘Open Source’
What these initiatives mean is that requirements both in actual disclosure organisations and actively working
developers no longer need to reverse and in the spirit of openness.” with competitors like Novell and
engineer their solutions to interoperate “These announcements build on Linspire to ensure interoperability,”
with Microsoft products with full Microsoft’s commitment to an open claimed Bob Morris. “We also have
access to documentation and support standards software environment.” an outreach program whose aim is to
from Microsoft staff. According to Ray Ozzie, Microsoft contact people and companies who
Bob Morris, Director, Microsoft chief software architect, the company's are already developing solutions to
Protocol Programs – Europe, explains announcement reflects the significance ensure they have all the information
what the main changes are from that individuals and businesses place they need to make sure their solutions
what Microsoft has been doing to upon the ease of information-sharing. are as compatible as possible.”
date, “Microsoft has had details of "Customers need all their vendors, Time will show whether the rest
hundreds of protocols up on MSDN including and especially Microsoft, to of the industry embraces Microsoft’s
for free for years however access deliver software and services that are new initiatives and it will be interesting
was only under licence and had flexible enough such that any developer to discover what else the EC wants
restrictions related to trade secrets. can use their open interfaces and data from Microsoft. Despite these
This new announcement removes to effectively integrate applications or to announcements Microsoft still received
all those trade secret restrictions. In compose entirely new solutions," said hefty fines from the EC for past ‘anti
effect any developer can access the Ozzie. "By increasing the openness of competitive’ practices.
documentation and make informed our products, we will provide developers http://www.microsoft.com/protocols
JUNE 2008 8020 EUROPA 43
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