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>C# is largely effectively proprietary because Microsoft rattles the patent sabre at non-Windows implementations. C# is an open standard, submitted to ISO and
by batista 15y ago
>C# is largely effectively proprietary because Microsoft rattles the patent sabre at non-Windows implementations.
C# is an open standard, submitted to ISO and ECMA (at least for versions < latest). MS also signed a legally binding patent pledge to not sue anyone for the language and runtime IIRC.
There exist at least two C# open source implementations that I know of, Mono and some GNU project.
- gouranga 15y agoThe runtime is a hodgepodge of standardised bits and Microsoft extensions though.
- nextparadigms 15y agoThat's my worry. They could always find some technicality to sue over.
- regularfry 15y agoIts being an open standard doesn't stop Microsoft asserting copyright over the APIs it describes. As far as I can tell, while ECMA controls the copyright of the standard document itself, they make no claims about the software described within it. Neither would the patent pledge.
- scott_w 15y agoI would be surprised if such a pledge would be legally binding. What section of law does it fall under? Contract? Can you sign a contract with "the general public"?