This is a term for a not yet published design or specification for a type of technology. Whether it’s a device or program, often details and even names are kept secret. This is to protect the rights of the owners, and to prevent competitors from copying or outright stealing cutting edge ideas and technologies. In most cases, designs kept secret during development will be revealed late, but not always – some companies choose to keep it all under wraps permanently.
Technipages Explains Proprietary Standard
This is less to protect themselves from theft and more in order to stop other companies from creating compatible or competing devices. The idea is that if nobody can emulate a standard, protocol or even device, the existing one will become the industry standard. When taken to an extreme, this will force users and companies to buy not just the one product they want but a whole series or several of the developing companies products – if they don’t, their newly purchased device won’t work with anything else.
In reality, this strategy rarely if ever works, and experience has shown that sharing and collaborating during the creation of new tech is ultimately the better way to go. That isn’t to say that all technology is or should be open-source, simply that allowing others to work with proprietary items can benefit all involved parties. End users especially do not like being forced into buying products from a manufacturer – they will often avoid the products altogether, in favour of fairer alternatives.
Open standards – the opposite of proprietary standards – are the general norm now, and promote a growing market. This in turn also benefits the involved companies and other participants, and encourages healthy competition and more importantly: compatibility across brands.
Common Uses of Proprietary Standard
- Proprietary standards are an approach some companies take in hopes of achieving a market monopoly – rarely with any success.
- The healthier alternative to proprietary standards are open standards.
- Proprietary standards may benefit their owner, but they ultimately disadvantage the end-user, and will drive them away from the product.
Common Misuses of Proprietary Standard
- Proprietary standards refer to technology standards that belong to or were developed by a certain company.
