Free disclosure of Windows technical information to non-commercial open source developers



Earlier, the news that ' Microsoft releases technical information on major products free of charge and freely develops compatible software ' came out, but this is a follow-up report.

Microsoft has announced that, apart from the Windows Shared Source Licensing Program, which allows only contracted customers to view Windows source code, there is no need to purchase a license and pay royalties to access it, true. The principle and measures of interoperability, which can be said to be a system that can be used free of charge and without the risk of litigation, will be introduced only for non-commercial purposes.

As the first step, various protocols for communicating with Windows Server will be released, and in order, Windows Vista, .NET Framework, Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Office 2007, Exchange Server 2007, Office SharePoint Server 2007, etc. It is going to expand to.

The point is to publish a technical document on Microsoft's site that describes all APIs (application programming interfaces) and communication protocols for widely used enterprise products.

asahi.com: To publish Windows 'blueprints' Microsoft-Business
http://www.asahi.com/business/update/0222/TKY200802210410.html

Windows design information disclosure
http://www.47news.jp/CN/200802/CN2008022101000865.html

Microsoft pledges not to sue over open source --CNET
https://www.cnet.com/news/microsoft-pledges-not-to-sue-over-open-source/

Microsoft's own press release is below.

Microsoft Makes Strategic Changes in Technology and Business Practices to Expand Interoperability --Stories
https://news.microsoft.com/2008/02/21/microsoft-makes-strategic-changes-in-technology-and-business-practices-to-expand-interoperability/


Microsoft announces changes in technology and business practices for greater interoperability
http://www.microsoft.com/japan/presspass/detail.aspx?newsid=3364

Documents and APIs are unknown, but will be available on Microsoft's website within a few months.

Starting today, we have published a 30,000-page technical document on MSDN that describes the protocols for Windows Client and Windows Server products, including the Microsoft Work Group Server Protocol Program ( WSPP ) and the Microsoft Communication Protocol Program. It would not be accessible without a license for the use of business secrets through (MCPP), and will also publish a list of patents and patent applications on which protocol Microsoft's patents apply to. I have. Loyalty on patents is expected to be fairly low.

In addition, as long as open source developers develop implementations of these protocols or distribute them for non-commercial purposes, the policy is to stipulate a clause that does not sue for their actions. In other words, these technical documents can be used free of charge in non-commercial development in open source.

In addition, we have disclosed the source code in response to the request from the EU, but in that case, it was practically meaningless in many cases.

'Windows Source Code Disclosure License' That Nobody Benefits | Nikkei Crosstech (xTECH)
https://xtech.nikkei.com/it/article/NEWS/20060130/228147/

This problem is so difficult that it's hard to know where to start. Let's start with Neelie Kroes. She made the following comments to Microsoft's proposal to disclose some of the Windows source code to competitors: 'I was surprised that Microsoft decided to disclose the source code. The EU asked the company to provide the technical documentation needed to communicate with Windows. The source code is usually the' best 'document. That's why programmers are required to provide comprehensive documentation as well as source code. '(Kroes)


In other words, source code disclosure so far didn't make any sense because there was no documentation on how to interact with Windows protocols and interfaces.

Also, until now, it was not allowed to 'modify' the source code simply by 'viewing' it.

Microsoft to release part of '.NET' source code conditionally --CNET Japan
https://japan.cnet.com/article/20358152/

The source code is provided under the 'Microsoft Reference License'. Under the license, you can view the source code, but you cannot modify it.


This announcement goes a little further than before, saying that it will not sue developers of 'non-commercial' software created based on such protocols published by Microsoft. is. This includes developers of open source software.

This time, Microsoft promises the following four.

1: Guarantee of open connection
2: Promotion of data portability improvement
3: Strengthening industry standard support
4: Build more open relationships with customers and organizations within the industry, including the open source community

I have no idea what you're talking about, but Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer said
“The change in practice we announced is a key step in the way we share information about our products and technologies. Over the last 33 years, we have worked with hundreds of partners around the world. We have contributed to the growth of the industry by sharing vast amounts of information in the meantime, and today's announcement seeks to further increase the transparency of these traditional methods. Our goal is to open our products. By increasing transparency and disclosing more information about our technology, we aim to enhance interoperability and provide our customers and partners with greater business opportunities and options. '
Is saying.

In addition, this announcement is part of what was made in response to the judgment when being accused of violating EU competition law , and it is said that the next move will be made in line with these movements within a few weeks. .. What are you going to publish?

2008/02/22 11:47 Fixed
There was a correction in the article content on asahi.com, and according to it, the source code was not released, so I corrected the article title and content.

2008/02/22 12:03 Addendum
Since Microsoft released a release in Japanese, I made major corrections with reference to it.

in Note, Posted by darkhorse