[ANN] Qt Ribbon QtitanRibbon Screenshots Available!

[AlexLeo]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ribbon_(computing)
As no patent has been acquired yet, they assert that anyone who has not signed the license can legally implement the
concept in their applications without having to conform to Microsoft's requirements

I agree with this statement. However, to sign the license and getting permission from the MS can get almost anyone and is actually a ritual character.
let me also quote a phrase from the Microsoft site:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/aa973809.aspx
All of the options in this category require acceptance of the Office UI License terms on this site.
The additional benefits of this category include the ability to implement across more platforms,
the ability to use elements of the Office 2010 UI that are not incorporated in the other implementations,
and the ability to use a third-party component that may have other benefits to you as a developer.

[wysota]

I bet there is a clause somewhere that they can revoke the "licence" they give you. Between the lines it can be read as "if you want to use he 'Office UI', you need to have a poisson pill ready should you ever do something we won't like". Imagine such UI components going in any of front line 3rd party applications such as Photoshop, AutoCAD or whatever. "Oh, we the Microsoft are releasing a new crappy graphics application and by pure coincidence at the same time we regret to inform that you have to stop selling Photoshop becuse we have just decided you are in violation with our Office UI agreement".

[AlexLeo]

I do not think that such an approach is correct from a legal point of view. With hindsight, the action has no effect. To do so, it should be Office UI concept version 2.

[wysota]

I do not think that such an approach is correct from a legal point of view.

You mean revoking a licence? If there is some clause like that in the agreement then I don't know what could be illegal in making use of it. That's a standard sentence that you have to accept (and obey) the licence to be able to use the product. If the licencer claims (and proves) the licencee didn't/doesn't obey it, use of the product has to be stopped.

[AlexLeo]

I guess i can imagine such situation in theory. But sense tells me that this is a very exotic case. I haven't heard about such cases earlier, if i understand what you mean correctly.

[wysota]

I guess i can imagine such situation in theory. But sense tells me that this is a very exotic case. I haven't heard about such cases earlier, if i understand what you mean correctly.

I haven't heard any case where you had to accept a licence of company A to be able to use a product of company B. And I can't think of any practical reason Microsoft requires that.

[ComaWhite]

IMHO I would use Ribbon even if they didn't like it. Tough shit if my app competes with you. That's the way developers do, hardwares, etc do. Why you think we have 1000's of brand type VCR's, DVD players, etc. But I doubt Microsoft could really say anything due to prior art.