FreeTDS Development Group

[Dossy Shiobara <dossy AT panoptic.com>]

On 2008.05.28, James K. Lowden <jklowden AT freetds.org> wrote:
> Thank you for pointing out this patent.  I wish I'd never read it.  It
> means that Microsoft is patenting its changes to the protocol.  It is the
> first step to preventing the creation of a compatible, interoperable
> implementation of their protocol.  

Huh?  Did you read this page:

    
http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/intellectualproperty/protocols/mcpp.mspx

    | ...
    | 
    | NEW! Patent License
    | 
    | Some MCPP protocols include patented inventions, and others do not.
    | You may benefit from the MCPP patent license if you are distributing
    | implementations of MCPP protocols commercially or if you use an
    | implementation of any of the MCPP protocols covered by Microsoft
    | patents. For more information, contact the MCPP Licensing team.
    | 
    |     * MCPP License Agreement (PDF file, 175 KB)
    | 
    | Patent Pledge for Open Source Developers
    | 
    | Microsoft irrevocably promises not to assert any Microsoft Necessary
    | Claims against you as an open source software developer ("You") for
    | making, using, importing, or distributing any implementation of a
    | Covered Specification ("Covered Implementation"), subject to the
    | following. [...]

So, you have two routes: obtain a patent license via the MCPP Licensing
team, or for Open Source projects, you can simply accept the patent
pledge.

This is quite pleasant, IMHO: commercial projects need to license, open
source doesn't need to explicitly license.  Of course, Microsoft can
benefit from open source works as they'll have access to the projects
--or else, how would we call it "open"?

Another bonus is MCPP License Agreement licensees can view Windows
source code at no additional charge (see "Windows Server Source Code
Viewing Offering").  The benefit here is if the specification is
unclear, you can look at Microsoft's actual implementation to aid you,
if you're a paid MCPP licensee.

Of all the "evil" things Microsoft has done in the past, this MCPP
effort should be applauded, IMHO.

-- 
Dossy Shiobara              | dossy AT panoptic.com | http://dossy.org/
Panoptic Computer Network   | http://panoptic.com/
  "He realized the fastest way to change is to laugh at your own
    folly -- then you can let go and quickly move on." (p. 70)