Asa Dotzler: Commitments? What Commitments‽ Principles? What Principles‽

Let's start with these.

1. Open Protocols. Microsoft commits that all the protocols in [Windows] that are used by any other Microsoft product will be made openly available to the developer community in a non-discriminatory fashion. These Open Protocols may include protocols that implement industry standards.

2. Open APIs. Microsoft commits that all the APIs in [Windows] that are used by any other Microsoft product will be made openly available to the developer community in a non-discriminatory fashion. These Open APIs may include APIs that implement industry standards.

3. Open Access. Microsoft will publish its documentation for these Open Protocols and Open APIs on its website so that all developers will have the benefit of this technical information in a manner that takes advantage of the nature of open discussion on the web. Microsoft will not require developers to obtain a license, or to pay a royalty or other fee, to have access to all this information....

via Microsoft Interoperability Principles