Open Specifications Dev Center

Through the Open Specifications program, Microsoft is helping developers open new opportunities by making technical documents related to interoperability for certain popular Microsoft products available to view and download from Open Specifications at no charge. This documentation includes protocols, computer languages, standards support, and data portability.

Although the technical documents are freely available, many of them include patented inventions. Some of these patents are available at no charge under the patent promises. The remaining patents are available through various programs. For more information, please see the Programs and Patents links.

You can learn about the Microsoft commitment to interoperability by watching our Open Specifications Interop Dev Events Plugfest Videos, such as Interoperability Protocols Keynotes. Find support for Open Specifications implementations by using the following Programs, Patents, Documentation, Plugfests and Events, Test Tools, Support, and Case Studies links.

Programs, patent pledges, and interoperability principles Patent map, patent promises, and the Open Web Foundation Agreement Technical documents for protocols, languages, standards support, and data portability Upcoming and past events, Open XML and ODF, Document Interoperability Initiative Message Analyzer, test suites, validators, interoperability labs, and more Forums, blogs, Microsoft Support, knowledge base, partner programs, and more Companies have used the Open Specifications for innovative, interoperable solutions