[OpenID] ANN: OpenID Information Cards spec and workingimplementation

[Dick Hardt]

On 21-Aug-07, at 9:53 PM, Peter Williams wrote:

> Is this patented ?
>
> Is this a levearging microsoft IP? They have a lot of patents (used  
> mostly defensivelý, to be fair)

Most of the large vendors in the Identity space have patents related  
to identity technology, so I am sure there are a number of patents  
that cover aspects of this specification.

If your question is will someone have to pay a fee to implement and  
deploy this specification, then I don't see why this spec is any  
different from any of the other OpenID specifications in that the  
participants so far have all indicated they do not intend to do that.

There is a group that is working on an IPR policy for OpenID, and  
this specification would fall under that IPR. Microsoft has been an  
active participant in the OpenID IPR process, so if the concern is if  
Microsoft will require fees to use any patents they own, then I would  
guess the answer is "no".

-- Dick