Microsoft to Share More of Its Technology
By REUTERS
Published: February 21, 2008
REDMOND, Wash. (Reuters) — Microsoft said Thursday that it would make
key technology elements of some of its best-selling software widely
available to increase interoperability with its competitors and customers.
To make connecting with third-party software easier, Microsoft will
publish on its Web site key software blueprints, known as application
program interfaces, pertaining to its high-volume products used by other
Microsoft merchandise.
In September, a European Union court upheld a landmark ruling that
Microsoft, the world’s biggest software maker, had abused its dominant
market position.
The court in September endorsed European Commission sanctions against
Microsoft for tying together software and its refusal to give rival
makers of office computer servers information to allow their products to
work smoothly with Windows.
The court also said Microsoft was unjustified in tying new applications
— or software programs — to its Windows operating system in a way that
squeezed out rivals and harmed consumer choice.
Microsoft also pledged Thursday not to sue open-source developers for
development or noncommercial distribution of those software blueprints.
“We are taking responsibility for implementing the principles in the
interoperability portion of the decision across all of Microsoft’s
high-volume products,” said Brad Smith, Microsoft’s general counsel,
referring to the European court ruling. “We will take additional steps
in the coming weeks to address the remaining portion” of the decision.
In January, the European Commission began new antitrust investigations
to see whether the company broke competition rules to help its Web
browser and its Office and Outlook products.
Microsoft said the moves announced Thursday apply to its following
products: Microsoft Vista, Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008, Office
2007, Exchange Server 2007 and Office SharePoint Server 2007, as well as
all future versions of the same products.
The European Commission said Microsoft’s announcement did not resolve
allegations of product tying and the Commission would try to verify the
pledges by the company.
“This announcement does not relate to the question of whether or not
Microsoft has been complying with EU antitrust rules in this area in the
past,” the European Union said in a statement.
Microsoft shares rose 8 cents to $28.30 in early-afternoon trading on
Nasdaq.
FONTE: The New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/technology/reuters-microsoft.html?ref=technology
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