Microsoft Opens Up Web Services Tech

Although many would not associate Microsoft with the words "open" and "promise," the company made a commitment Tuesday to not assert its patents across 35 Web services specifications. In making the move, the company hopes to spur development of new web services, as well as ease developer concerns.

The "Open Specification Promise" is essentially a promise to not take legal action against any developer, unless that developer takes or participates in legal action against Microsoft related to the patents included. It also means those using the specifications would not have to sign a licensing agreement.

Microsoft decided on this approach as it was the easiest method to allow developers to continue to develop Web services free of concerns of legal ramifications from the Redmond company. A developer has the choice of implementing all or some of the specifications within their applications.

"The OSP applies whether you have a full or partial implementation. You get the same irrevocable promise from us either way," Microsoft said in a FAQ describing the program. According to developers, while the company has not launched any legal actions involving web services technologies, licensing and royalties was a concern.

Included in the specifications are interoperability and security protocols, as well as specifications allowing for the inclusion of the SOAP protocol within a Web service.

Reaction from the developer community has been positive. "We commend Microsoft's efforts to reach out to representatives from the open source community and solicit their feedback on this text, and Microsoft's willingness to make modifications in response to our comments," Redhat Deputy General Counsel Mark Webbink said.

Technology lawyer and open standards supporter Andy Updegrove also had praise for Microsoft's latest move to open up.

"I think that this move should be greeted with approval, and that Microsoft deserves to be congratulated for this action. I hope that the standards affected will only be the first of many that Microsoft, and hopefully other patent owners as well, benefit with similar pledges," Updegrove said in his Web log Tuesday.

Microsoft has opened up its specifications once before; in November 2004, the company said it would open up the XML document specifications within Office 2003.