| Microsoft overhauls, simplifies Shared Source licenses |
Oct. 19, 2005
Microsoft has substantially simplified its Shared Source licensing process for future Shared Source code releases. Based on experience gained through its Shared Source initiative over the past several years, the company has trimmed the more than ten existing licensing models to just three simplified licenses, plus a couple of variations.
The three new licenses, each about a page or less in length, are: - Microsoft Permissive License (Ms-PL) -- The least restrictive of the three, this allows users to "view, modify, and redistribute the source code for either commercial or non-commercial purposes." The code is available royalty-free without obligation to publish changes, in a manner reminiscent of the open source BSD license.
- Microsoft Community License (Ms-CL) -- Commonly referred to as a "reciprocal source code license," this has specific requirements for redistribution of code that contains Ms-CL elements. The Ms-CL works on a "file-by-file" basis, similar to the Mozilla Public License, according to Microsoft. Files containing Ms-CL code must be redistributed in source form. Distribution of non-Ms-CL files is at the developer's discretion.
- Microsoft Reference License (Ms-RL) -- This most restrictive of Microsoft's Shared Source licenses only permits viewing of the code for reference purposes. Modification and redistribution are prohibited. This license is intended for "more sensitive intellectual property assets," according to Microsoft. Ms-RL code can only be used on a Windows platform.
Additionally, both the Ms-PL and Ms-CL have "limited" versions that restrict the code to use on Microsoft's Windows platforms, only. Microsoft says it may choose this option for a particular source code release "in order to enable positive interaction with Windows-based developers."
In an interview with eWeek.com, Jason Matusow, director of Microsoft's Shared Source program, said "At the heart of the move is the goal of simplifying the licensing of Shared Source code, making the licenses short and easy to understand. The existing licenses were getting longer all the time as more people touched different programs throughout the company and we were seeing a proliferation of licenses."
Matusow also noted that Microsoft wanted to make the licenses "modern," meaning that they are readily understandable by lay people as well as attorneys, and can be easily compared to copyright law. "We did not need to have a license contract that was hundreds of pages long to achieve that," Matusow said.
New licenses apply to future releases
Interestingly, the new licenses will only apply to future Shared Source releases, according to the eWeek.com article. Current Shared Source continues to be governed by the terms of the existing licenses. "If it makes sense to do so in the future and after the community talks to us about it, we may decide to [retroactively apply the new licensing scheme]. But there is certainly no commitment to do that at this time," Matusow said.
In terms of impact to Microsoft's Windows CE Shared Source and Shared Platforms, Windows Embedded product manager Nic Sagez told WindowsForDevices.com that these programs are not migrating to the new licenses any time soon. However, Sagez did not rule out the possibility of a longer term change, based on customer feedback and market requirements.
Learning more about Shared Source
The following Microsoft articles provide further details on the company's newly updated Shared Source initiative and licenses: - Shared Source Initiative -- an overview of Microsoft's Shared Source initiative, with links to specific areas of interest
- New Shared Source Licenses -- a description of the newly released shared source licenses, including sections on the Microsoft Permissive License (Ms-PL) Microsoft Permissive License (Ms-PL), Microsoft Community License (Ms-CL), Microsoft Community License (Ms-CL), Microsoft Reference License (Ms-RL), and Microsoft Reference License (Ms-RL)
- Shared Source Licensing Programs for Developers -- a summary of all of the currently available Shared Source licensing programs of interest to software developers
- Shared Source Licensing Programs -- a comprehensive list, with summaries, of all of Microsoft's Shared Source programs, with links to further details on each
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