Microsoft cuts the ribbon on Office 2007 UI licensing
MS-Watch | at | by Mike
Intellectual property licensing gives me a real headache. I've got a whopper now. Microsoft is licensing elements of the Office 2007 user interface on a royalty-free basis.
Microsoft released a bunch documentation on the UI licensing, so it will be heavy reading for the Thanksgiving holiday. Gist of the news: Third parties can use portions of the Office 2007 user interface, the "ribbon," in their own products.
Microsoft has lots to gain from the licensing program. The more software that looks and feels like Office 2007, the better for Microsoft and its customers. The company and its development partners have invested loads of money and resources around the familiarity of the Office interface. Office 2007 sports a new interface, and it's an ugly duckling. The new UI is sure to be a swan some day, when people get used to the changes and see the benefits of the task-oriented approach.