Microsoft's Open Specifications promise

Microsoft shocked me a bit with this one. If you use Microsoft's web service specifications (XML, SOAP, UDDI, etc), you don't even have to reference Microsoft or mention that what you're using is from them. They have stated that they won't enforce their patent. What? Microsoft not wanting credit for one of their ideas? That's cool. As a developer, there are plenty of restrictions and rules you have to follow when writing software, so this just makes it a bit easier, not having to add one more thing to your application. These web service specs are used in many contexts other than traditional desktop software, so it is a bit more complicated to add credit to each instance of the technology. It isn't so cut and dried. Imagine if you had to credit someone every time someone consumed a web service, it is doable (if you have to) but it's also a pain.

[Via InformationWeek]

Tags: Microsoft, SOAP, UDDI, web services, WebServices, XML