SOURCE-CODE CHANGES ALLOWED FOR SOME MICROSOFT PRODUCTS
Microsoft has announced that under new licensing terms that are part of
its Shared Source Initiative, some industry partners will have full
access to Microsoft source code and will be allowed to modify it. The
Shared Source Initiative had given some academics and governments
access to source code and allowed limited changes for research or
governmental purposes. The new program frees partners including chip
makers and other manufacturers to modify Windows CE and distribute the
modified code for their own commercial advantage. Those companies
retain exclusive rights to the modified code for at least six months,
after which they may or may not license the software back to Microsoft.
Analysts said the new program is an important step for Microsoft in
relaxing its control over intellectual property. Analysts noted that
the program applies to software in markets that Microsoft does not
dominate, including cell phones, hand-held computers, and television
set-top boxes.
New York Times, 10 April 2003 (registration req'd)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/10/technology/10SOFT.html
