Hi Mark,
Correct, the Ribbon UI is a design concept licensed by Microsoft (they originally created the design) as long as you follow the specifications they provide. They actually have a 160+ page document that indicates everything and there are numerous requirements like the one I posted above to ensure you are using the ribbon design properly. Our product meets all of the specifications, but there are some things out of our control like where you put the ribbon and how many you use, etc. For instance, per the requirement I mentioned above from Microsoft, the ribbon must extend full width of the application.
Others by Microsoft regarding ribbon usage are:
The Ribbon MUST NOT coexist with top-level menus and toolbars. The Ribbon is a replacement for menus and toolbars. The Ribbon is not an additional component that can be added onto an existing menu- and toolbar-based user interface.
The Ribbon MUST be positioned at the top of the application window in a space that is dedicated to displaying the Ribbon. The Ribbon MUST NOT be displayed on either side of the application window or at the bottom of the application window.
If you are making a reusable UserControl that has its own toolbar and can be put anywhere in your window, used more than once at the same time, or resized in various ways, you might be better off using a standard ToolBar.