An open-source rival to a Microsoft identity tool has been in limbo
for months, awaiting the software giant's go-ahead on certain
patent-related issues.
Developers working on the Higgins project want to create a tool equivalent to Microsoft's Windows CardSpace,
but fear the software giant's legal wrath if they don't receive
permission on certain features. Although parts of the project continue
to move forward, proponents say it may not reach its full potential
without Microsoft's help.
"There are some pieces that we would not be able to release
that we would like to," Mary Ruddy, a Higgins project leader, said
Thursday. "We want to make sure that the intellectual property for all
of our open-source projects is really clean, so that people can feel
confident about using our code."
In September, Microsoft pledged not to assert its patents pertaining to nearly three dozen Web services specifications.
That did help the Higgins project, but developers say that wasn't
enough to help them deliver all the features they hope to. They have
asked Microsoft to provide guarantees that it won't sue on other parts
of its intellectual property.
4:42:06 PM 
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