Microsoft Eases "Shared Source" Restrictions

An anonymous reader writes "In an effort to help device makers differentiate their products and compete more vigorously with Linux, Microsoft is eliminating major restrictions on the use of its "shared source" license for the Windows CE operating system. The change, which accompanies the impending full release of Windows CE 5.0, will counter competition from Linux and is likely to expand Microsoft's slice of the roughly $1B embedded OS market pie. Specifically, the new version of the Win CE Shared Source license will, for the first time, enable developers anywhere in the world to include modified Windows CE code within commercial products without having to sublicense the modifications back to Microsoft. Interestingly, the revised Shared Source terms are reminiscent of the BSD open source license, which permits the development of proprietary derivatives that need not be shared with the community, in contrast to the GPL, which obligates developers to make their modifications available to the public."

Comments

The rest of the license terms still way expensive

[Anonymous Coward]

In a M$ license every word adds cost to the lincesee.

M$ lawyers don't add words to a license for no reason. Every word of a M$ license has a reason and a cost.

Re:The user's perspective.

[PD]

I feel like a miserable failure, because apparently nobody hates me enough to write such a lovely flame about me. Brought a tear to my eye.