Microsoft Corp.'s recent patent application for distributed computing around its .Net architecture has stirred concern in the industry about Microsoft's intentions.

The Redmond, Wash., company's refusal to discuss the patent has led observers to speculate that the move is intended to help ward off the threat of several open-source initiatives-specifically Mono, a project to create an open-source implementation of .Net. Others see it as a grab for control of Web services.

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