Microsoft’s Sender ID e-mail authentication technology can now be used without fear of the software giant’s intellectual property lawyers. The company said Monday it is making the ‘Sender ID Framework’ available under its Open Specification Promise program. That means Microsoft will not sue anyone who creates products or services based on the e-mail technology.
This is a good move.
They should have done this from the very start. It’s too late now: everybody associates Sender ID with the prorietary problems it had. Maybe Sender ID is a nice idea, and there is still some hope left, but the initiative already lost the momentum.
If at first no one will buy into your proprietary big brother technology you gotta try something else in the end!
…When no one uses Windows/Vista anymore, MS will release its source code, and no one will be interested anymore.
From TFA:
“Nearly two years after Sender ID’s launch, 36 percent of all legitimate e-mail sent worldwide uses the technology, via about 5 million domains, according to Microsoft data.”
I’d like to hear a bit more about the research that coughed-up these data. 36 percent? I’ve never come across any usage of this tech in the wild, though admittedly I might not know it if it bit me in the proverbials. And how did they define ‘legitimate’ email? It’s quite meaningless without some background.
I would guess that any legitimate emails would be those running with sender id implemented.
Really, since when has Microsoft given anything free ? Mark my words, they are probably giving this technology out for free, and when millions and millions of websites start using this technology, they’ll probably implement something in to the base infrastructure which will require a license to use. Then, they will start forcing people to pay up to use these functions.
Rambus anyone ?
Really, since when has Microsoft given anything free ? Mark my words, they are probably giving this technology out for free, and when millions and millions of websites start using this technology, they’ll probably implement something in to the base infrastructure which will require a license to use. Then, they will start forcing people to pay up to use these functions.
Yes indeed. Remember the “free” VFAT file system, which Microsoft suddenly patented and then started demanding royalties? Anyone familiar with Microsoft’s past would not trust Bill Gates any further than you can throw him.