- From: David Poehlman <poehlman@clark.net>
- Date: Wed, 06 Oct 1999 17:55:54 -0500
- To: WAI Interest Group <w3c-wai-ig@w3.org>
it has been said that microsoft plans to develop something propriatary and perhaps sinister surrounding xml. here is the response to that missive. -------- Original Message -------- Subject: News or idle rumor? Date: Wed, 6 Oct 1999 14:48:11 -0700 From: Dan Rogers <danro@microsoft.com> Reply-To: uaccess-l@trace.wisc.edu To: "'uaccess-l@trace.wisc.edu'" <uaccess-l@trace.wisc.edu> CC: "'jn@tommy.demon.co.uk'" <jn@tommy.demon.co.uk> Hi, Parden my intrusion. I'm the person at Microsoft the runs and manages the www.biztalk.org web site. This list recently posted some information about the use of XML and the www.biztalk.org library that is totally incorrect. I'd like a chance to address some of the points made. Point 1. The writer asserts that Microsoft is retaining the copyrights to all XML schemas. Hah! Totally false. The companies that submit the schemas granted Microsoft permission to store them on computers, distribute them electronically, and to copyright the copyrightable work that results from combining XML schemas with search displays and artwork. The companies that have contributed their schemas are committed to XML, are using XML, and see the need for the discovery, validation and hosting services provided by the library. I have to believe that if the companies that have participated did not believe this, then they would not be participating. The schemas that are in the library are free to be used by anyone. The copyright is held on the presentation - namely the web site, the search mechanism, the menus, buttons, and articles on the site. This is standard fare for all web sites. Point 2. OASIS is writing a specification for a schema registration facililty that will duplicate the function of the biztalk.org library. Microsoft is a member in good standing of OASIS. There aren't any schemas at www.xml.org - although OASIS does intend on creating a registry of publishers that use XML for any purpose. The biztalk.org library was opened in September this year - after several months of hard work and development. The way I see it, different companies will use different XML portals. Point 3. The writer of this incorrect missive states that Microsoft is using XML in a proprietary way. This is patently rediculous. How can you use the standard (W3C XML) in a proprietary way. Please visit the library. Learn the facts. We're promoting a consistent way to represent information in documents. We're going to use XML in our products, just as others do in their products. So, for those on this list that want to find out for themselves, and not fall prey to rumor mongering, visit our library. Get yourself a user ID and password (it's free, and always will be). Search for schemas. Download them. Download the tools that we are giving away, source and all. Use the tools and schemas you find in any way you like. Please, above all, participate in the community discussions - if you see something proprietary and non-standard, I'd like to know what it is. Point 4. The writer intimated that Microsoft is big and powerful (and therefore bad). For the record, OASIS is funded totally by contributions from IBM, SUN and Oracle. Thus, OASIS is run by large and powerful software companies. The fact is that large and powerful software companies are embracing XML like they do every useful and innovative technology. Best Regards, Dan Rogers Microsoft Corporation
Received on Wednesday, 6 October 1999 17:56:14 UTC