Post facto interoperability Interoperability

post facto interoperability may result of absolute market dominance of particular product in contravention of applicable standards, or if effective standards not present @ time of product s introduction. vendor behind product can choose ignore forthcoming standards , not co-operate in standardisation process @ all, using near-monopoly insist product sets de facto standard market dominance. not problem if product s implementation open , minimally encumbered, may both closed , heavily encumbered (e.g. patent claims). because of network effect, achieving interoperability such product both critical other vendor if wishes remain relevant in market, , difficult accomplish because of lack of co-operation on equal terms original vendor, may see new vendor potential competitor , threat. newer implementations rely on clean-room reverse engineering in absence of technical data achieve interoperability. original vendors can provide such technical data others, in name of encouraging competition, such data invariably encumbered, , may of limited use. availability of such data not equivalent open standard, because: