Microsoft Touts Open Source Support

Microsoft outlined several measures it is taking to support the development of open source software, including donations to the Apache organization.Speaking at the Open Source Convention and following up with a blog post, Microsoft platform strategy director Sam Ramji revealed that Microsoft had become a platinum sponsor of the Apache Software Foundation, which works on the development of open source Web server software. (Platinum sponsorship requires a donation of at least $100,000.)

Ramji also wrote that "Microsoft is putting a wide range of protocols that were formerly in the Communications Protocol Program under the Open Specification Promise (OSP). This guarantees their freedom from any patent claims from Microsoft now or in the future, and includes both Microsoft-developed and industry-developed protocols."BBC News, PC Pro