Microsoft has entered into a licensing agreement with the nonprofit Protocol Freedom Information Foundation (PFIF) under which the software giant will be providing developers working on the Samba file and printing system with the information they need to ensure interoperability between their open-source software and Windows.
Essentially, the agreement gives the Samba team access to Microsoft specifications for the protocols in the Work Group Server Protocol Program and allows the Samba team to create, use, and distribute implementations.
“What this process has shown me is that if we focus on technology, and patient, diligent execution, we can make real progress together,” said Sam Ramji, the director of the Open Source Software Lab at Microsoft.
Microsoft’s licensing of proprietary information represents the first fruit of the software giant’s capitulation to the European Commission’s landmark 2004 antitrust decision.
Making Real Progress
“The agreement allows us to keep Samba up to date with recent changes in Microsoft Windows, and also helps other free software projects that need to interoperate with Windows,” said Samba cocreator Andrew Tridgell.
In exchange for a one-time fee of 10,000 euros (US$14,350), the PFIF will be able to provide Samba with the necessary documentation for implementing all of the Workgroup Server Protocols covered by the European Commission’s antitrust decision.
“I expect that this will significantly improve the process of Samba development, and produce better quality interoperation between the Windows and Linux/Unix environments,” Ramji said.
The agreement clarifies the exact patent numbers involved so there is no possibility of misunderstanding. Microsoft is prevented from asserting any patents against any implementation developed using the supplied documentation, noted Samba cocreator Jeremy Allison. In addition, Microsoft’s warranty under the agreement extends to all third parties, he said.
The Next Step
Samba will be able to continue its existing practice of including comments in its source code, “so that there…