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Microsoft today initiated a new program that promises legal indemnification protections against intellectual property (IP) claims for organizations using Microsoft Azure services.
The program, called "Microsoft Azure IP Advantage", takes effect today for Azure users. However, they need to meet certain qualifications to get some of the program's protection benefits.
There are three basic elements to the program. First, Microsoft is promising to include IP protections for its patented technologies, as well as open source technologies, used in Azure. Next, Microsoft is promising to keep a pool of patents for legal defensive purposes. Organizations can pick one patent to use for countersuing purposes. Lastly, Microsoft is promising that if it transfers Azure-associated patents to "nonpracticing entities," then the arrangement will be such that the holding company can't assert IP claims against Azure customers. This latter arrangement is called a "springing license" arrangement in legal lingo.
One example of IP protections enabled by the program for open source software is the use of open source Hadoop technology, according to Microsoft's announcement. Hadoop is used in Microsoft's Azure HD Insight "Big Data" services, so the program affords indemnity protections for Azure HD Insight users.
Source: Microsoft Kicks Off Legal Indemnity Program for Azure Users
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Nerdfest on Saturday March 18 2017, @08:56PM
This is basically a protection racket. Oh well, they seem to get away with extortion where their "android patents" are involved, so why not.