Microsoft publishes interoperability undertaking

In a separate initiative to its settlement of its browser dispute with the European Commission, Microsoft has published a “public undertaking” to disclose information that will improve interoperability between third party products and several Microsoft products. This will be enforceable through legally-binding warranties offered to third party developers.

According to Microsoft, this interoperability undertaking reflects the policy outlined by Commissioner Neelie Kroes in June 2008 in which she said that companies offering high-share software products should be required to (i) disclose technical specifications to enable interoperability; (ii) ensure that competitors can access complete and accurate information and have a remedy if not; and (iii) ensure that the technical specifications are available at fair royalty rates, based on the inherent value of the technology disclosed.

Click here to read the press release.