Is the license for MS Ribbon / Office UI justified?

Question

Imagine that I want to create an application that is very similar to MS Word 2007, using C ++ in VS2008 and the MFC Feature Pack. There are 3 options for the tape:

• Use the ribbon from Feature Feature Feature without a license.
  Probably quirky in the long run. Everything is fine with you until your product becomes a global success, and at that moment MS Legal will send heavyweights. But could they really do anything?

• Use the tape from Feature Pack MFC, but try to purchase a license.
  I believe that if I try to register the Office UI License , there is a chance that I will be rejected because it is a competing product:

  The license is available for applications on any platform, with the exception of applications that compete directly with the five Office applications that currently have a new interface (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access).

• Use a third-party tape control.
  If I were to buy a BCGControlBar library license for about £ 500 from BCGSoft — the ribbon bar used by MS in the MFC Feature Pack — then I could use the ribbon in my application without any problems.

I do not want to spend money if it is absolutely necessary. How about if I use option # 1, until I worry about it, at what point could I stop it and go to # 3? Would it be too late?

Of course, all of the above is hypothetical ...;)

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Note. I do not need any patents or copyrights related to the similarities between my product and Word, this is just an example. This question only concerns the licensing aspect of the tape.

Answer 1

I guess it really comes down to whether I am a direct competitor to MS. Any product can use tape if it is not a “competing product,” whatever that means.

In the context of my theoretical question, I would certainly be a competitor, so I would say that it is too risky to use any tape.

Of course, in real life, regardless of whether you are a competitor, he is not quite black and white. I would probably choose option # 2 for any product other than OpenOffice.

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EDIT
I watched this video and here is a quote from MS attorney in it:

"The license is not available for applications that have the same basic functionality as the 5 applications that currently have tape in the office. These are Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and Access."

The word primary gives the impression that a product containing a rich text editor might have a ribbon bar on it if the main purpose of the product is different from Word. for example, a version control system that allows for rich text comments on checkin would probably be fine. (I think)

Answer 2

I understand, you say that you do not care about the problem with patents, but this is really the only problem. Even if you acquired third-party tape control, Microsoft has patents and may come after you for violating them. They clearly went out and said that people can use it for non-competitive products.

Limitations of the license for the UI interface for the concept of the tape, and not just its specific implementation. See this page for more details.

Answer 3

IMO, if you say that you will probably be denied a license, since product resemblance, in any case, without a license, probably will not be good for you if Microsoft ever catches the wind.

I would choose option 3 to be safe.

Answer 4

Even if you use the tape from a third-party control, do you need to get a license to use it in your application?

Answer 5

If you are interested in exploring the route of a third-party component, the CodeProject article below provides a feed that is very similar to Microsoft and freely available (although you will have to give credit to the author).

The professional tape you'll use (now with orb!)

I have not tried, but the article is highly rated (FWTW).

Answer 6

Or do not use tape.

Knowing Microsoft, it may not even appear in the next version of Office ...

Save your money (and reputation!)

Be creative, but also come up with what your users want. Tape is a nightmare. Do not make the same mistake!

Answer 7

If Microsoft ever decides to follow you, you're dead. Regardless of the merits of the case, you will have to be content to not wait until death before paying for lawyers. They have much deeper pockets than yours.

And remember that in the United States, at least the damage for patent infringement is much greater if they can prove that you knew about the patent and intentionally violated it. I believe that publication in a public forum will be sufficiently proven.