Is it legal to use PE and DLLs?

[Developer]

Hi again,

I hope Mike can answer this Q.

PE and DLL(s) are Microsoft components right?
Isn't it illegal to use them then?

According to this: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/pl ... ecoff.mspx

Does Microsoft have PATENT on the PE and DLL(s)?

Any idea?

Thanks!

[Mike]

Hello,

It is legal to use PEs (and thus DLLs) although I do encourage eventually moving to your own customized format later on. You arent using Microsoft components but rather just a specification to write your own components.

[Developer]

Hello,

It is legal to use PEs (and thus DLLs) although I do encourage eventually moving to your own customized format later on. You arent using Microsoft components but rather just a specification to write your own components.

How sure are you? I thought that the DOS PE HEADER where Microsoft things?