Comments on: Microsoft’s new promise: a welcome development http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/2006/09/12/microsofts-new-promise-a-welcome-development/ Tangled musings on identity, privacy, trust, and suchlike Sat, 08 Oct 2011 19:31:02 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: SunMink - Simon Phipps http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/2006/09/12/microsofts-new-promise-a-welcome-development/comment-page-1/#comment-11805 SunMink - Simon Phipps Thu, 14 Sep 2006 06:54:10 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2006/09/12/microsofts-new-promise-a-welcome-development/#comment-11805 <strong>Security Blankets</strong> I see David Berlind has been asking for my opinion on Microsoft's new non-assert covenant . Keeping in mind that (a) Kim didn't send me an e-mail to tell me about it, let alone an advance review copy like Andy Updegrove , and (b) I have been in ... Security Blankets

I see David Berlind has been asking for my opinion on Microsoft’s new non-assert covenant . Keeping in mind that (a) Kim didn’t send me an e-mail to tell me about it, let alone an advance review copy like Andy Updegrove , and (b) I have been in …

]]> By: Push Button Paradise | Blog Archive | Microsoft frees 35 standards http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/2006/09/12/microsofts-new-promise-a-welcome-development/comment-page-1/#comment-11723 Push Button Paradise | Blog Archive | Microsoft frees 35 standards Wed, 13 Sep 2006 05:50:00 +0000 http://www.xmlgrrl.com/blog/archives/2006/09/12/microsofts-new-promise-a-welcome-development/#comment-11723 [...] I got this link from Eve, and to think, I never even knew there was a consortiuminfo.org. The Microsoft Open Specifications Promise irrevocably lets any interested parties implement and use a list of technologies without fear of getting sued (at least sued by Microsoft). It is similar in tone and scope to earlier declarations about the Office XML formats, and the declaration from Sun about UBL. I’m not a lawyer, so if I’ve described this badly, get a real lawyer to explain it. :-P This is a smart move; since obviously a great deal of work went into producing these standards, I’m sure Microsoft plans to benefit more by growing the “whole market” (in the language of _Crossing the Chasm_) then they would by nickle-and-dime asserting patent rights. They also come out far, far better in public opinion, especially among those most affected by these standards. There’s another angle worth considering–the defensive. Giving away patent rights carte blanche might at first seem like a funny kind of defense, but here’s how it works: after today, what would happen if BigWebServicesCo started shaking down implementers of WS-Whatever? The attacker would be savagely torn apart in the court of public opinion, that’s what. Submarine patents are dirty business, so for a bigger target, creating an environment more hostile to such bad behavior is a powerful strategy. [...] [...] I got this link from Eve, and to think, I never even knew there was a consortiuminfo.org. The Microsoft Open Specifications Promise irrevocably lets any interested parties implement and use a list of technologies without fear of getting sued (at least sued by Microsoft). It is similar in tone and scope to earlier declarations about the Office XML formats, and the declaration from Sun about UBL. I’m not a lawyer, so if I’ve described this badly, get a real lawyer to explain it. :-P This is a smart move; since obviously a great deal of work went into producing these standards, I’m sure Microsoft plans to benefit more by growing the “whole market” (in the language of _Crossing the Chasm_) then they would by nickle-and-dime asserting patent rights. They also come out far, far better in public opinion, especially among those most affected by these standards. There’s another angle worth considering–the defensive. Giving away patent rights carte blanche might at first seem like a funny kind of defense, but here’s how it works: after today, what would happen if BigWebServicesCo started shaking down implementers of WS-Whatever? The attacker would be savagely torn apart in the court of public opinion, that’s what. Submarine patents are dirty business, so for a bigger target, creating an environment more hostile to such bad behavior is a powerful strategy. [...]

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