In today’s Azure Every Day post, I’d like to talk about something a little different from our normal posts, and that is Azure IP Advantage. Maybe you don’t know what this is. Well, Microsoft realized that innovating the cloud came with certain risks involving intellectual property (IP).

In realizing this, they built a program that allows you to protect yourself against lawsuits from attorneys and patent lawyers, which can wreak havoc in the industry. Here are 3 ways that Microsoft is working to protect your creativity and innovation when using Azure:

Best in industry, uncapped defense and indemnification coverage, which includes any open source technology used by MSFT Azure

As an Azure customer, you are automatically protected for free, without having to enroll or sign up. If an open source technology is used in an Azure branded product, you are protected.

Monday, we kick off Azure Data Week. See you there!

Use of Microsoft’s over 10,000 patents in its portfolio to counter assert when you’re trying to deter a patent lawsuit or defend against a patent lawyer

All you need to do is use Azure regularly and as a regular Azure consumer you’re covered and have access to this library of patents to counter assert.

Commitment to protect Azure customers from lawsuits if their patents are transferred to a non-practicing entity

Sadly, patent law firms essentially buy patents and sue people. It’s how they make money. Having worked in a prior industry and been part of patent lawsuits, I know this is a common occurrence, and the ability to prove certain things, especially when the technology isn’t yours to prove, can often be very difficult.

While this is not something they do regularly, Microsoft is committed to protecting Azure customers if it does happen. One thing they are not doing is putting restrictions on your own IP, so if you build your own IP on the Azure platform, they’re not restricting your ability to protect it.

Microsoft is allowing people to innovate and do what’s needed for the next generation of business and to do great things in the industry. Once again, they are leaders in the industry on matters important to business, while protecting you, even on open source technology. No one else is doing this.