Integrity & governance

"Microsoft is committed to principled, accountable, and transparent business practices that meet our responsibilities as a global company." – Brad Smith, General Counsel and Executive Vice President, Legal and Corporate Affairs

One tangible example of our commitment to transparency is our work to provide clarity around the patents we hold. One of the main functions of patents is to provide notice both of the invention and who owns it. Disclosure of the real party in interest for a particular patent reduces the likelihood of opportunistic behavior and gamesmanship, helping to facilitate licensing. Therefore we publish a list that includes to the best of our knowledge all issued patents that Microsoft currently owns. Additional information can be found on this website.

Each day we interact with a variety of individuals and groups - including our customers, partners, competitors, co-workers, shareholders, vendors, government and regulatory agencies, and the communities in which we operate. We are committed to interacting with all of these audiences in a respectful, ethical manner and in compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements. We train employees annually in our Standards of Business Conduct and have strong compliance systems to ensure the principles are upheld and take corrective action if they are not. We have a sophisticated set of Political Engagement policies to ensure that our participation in the policy process is transparent and maintains appropriate and strong anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies and systems. Download the Anti-Corruption Policy for Representatives (Word file, 36 KB) to learn more.

Good corporate governance practices build trust, create internal check and balances, and strengthen management accountability.

We also have a strong set of industry-leading corporate governance policies and systems in place designed to:

• Establish and preserve management accountability to Microsoft's owners by appropriately distributing rights and responsibilities among Microsoft Board members, managers, and shareholders.
• Provide a structure through which management and the Board set objectives and monitor performance.
• Strengthen and safeguard our culture of business integrity and responsible business practices.
• Encourage the efficient use of resources, and to require accountability for stewardship of those resources.

In working to conduct our business with integrity, we engage with a wide range of stakeholders across all parts of our business operations. We also benefit from participating in a range of groups and initiatives addressing corporate responsibility including the United Nations Global Compact, Business for Social Responsibility, the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, and the World Economic Forum's Partnering Against Corruption Initiative.