MS to publish its internal APIs and protcols

Some important news from MS.

http://reuters.com/news_article.jhtml?type=search&StoryID=1293418

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/legal/aug02/08-5settlementmilestones.asp

"New uniform licensing terms that are effective for the top 20 computer
manufacturers ("OEMs") that license Windows desktop operating systems, and
which Microsoft has also provided to all royalty OEMs licensing Windows
desktop operating systems."

"The release to manufacturing of Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Windows 2000
Professional Service Pack 3, both of which will include new mechanisms that
computer manufacturers and consumers can use to add and remove access to
certain Windows features and easily set defaults for competing software. "

"The publication of new technical information, including:
Approximately 300 Windows Application Programming Interfaces ("APIs") that
developers can use to write applications for Windows, available for no
additional charge."

"The availability of approximately 113 proprietary protocols that server
vendors can license and use as a new way of achieving interoperability with
Windows desktops."