Patent Rights
Some of the Microsoft protocols include patented inventions and others do not. You may benefit from a patent license if you use or distribute any of the protocols covered by Microsoft patents. For more information, contact the Microsoft Open Protocols Team.
As part of the Microsoft Interoperability Principles, Microsoft commits that all the protocols in its high-volume products that are used by any other Microsoft product will be made openly available to the developer community in a nondiscriminatory fashion. Patent licenses are available at low royalty rates.
Microsoft also offers patents as part of the following protocol programs:
Microsoft Work Group Server Protocol Program
This program grants licenses to create server software that interoperates with Microsoft Windows server and desktop operating systems to provide file and print services and user and group administration services.
