[Tickets #12822] Re: Exporting webmail into pst files

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Ticket URL: http://bugs.horde.org/ticket/12822
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  Ticket             | 12822
  Updated By         | Michael Slusarz <slusarz at horde.org>
  Summary            | Exporting webmail into pst files
  Queue              | Horde Groupware Webmail Edition
  Version            | 5.1.3
  Type               | Enhancement
  State              | Rejected
  Priority           | 2. Medium
  Milestone          |
  Patch              |
  Owners             |
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Michael Slusarz <slusarz at horde.org> (2013-11-05 11:41) wrote:

> I was under the assumption that PST files are covered under MS's  
> Open Specification Promise program. Perhaps I misunderstood, or do  
> not understand the program fully?
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/openspecifications/en/us/programs/osp/default.aspx#office-file-formats

How "free" this license is depends on how you construe it.  Granted,  
it's no different from how people construe, the GPL.

The troubling aspect is that Microsoft up front claims this IP is  
covered by patents (whether valid or not), and Microsoft directly says  
that they can rescind this grant based on your actions.  This is not  
an "irrevocable" grant of of authority on its face like, say, the BSD  
license is.

In short: is it ok?  Maybe.  But there is much less of a track record  
than, say, the GPL.  And quite honestly, there isn't a huge track  
record for the GPL either.  It comes down to the risk any individual  
person/organization is willing to undertake.  That's why Microsoft  
offers to option to just license the patents outright and eliminate  
this concern.