Microsoft Downplays CE Shared Source Fears

Taking its Shared Source Initiative one step further, Microsoft announced it has launched a new program designed to allow Windows CE developers to distribute modifications to the embedded operating system's source code. Although the company previously allowed such changes for non-commercial use, it is the first time Microsoft will enable partners to ship modified code in commercial products.

Windows CE Shared Source Premium Licensing Program (CEP) members will be provided complete access to CE source code, more than that available under previous programs, according to Microsoft.

"We give them everything we can provide," Scott Horn, director of marketing for Microsoft's embedded and appliance platform group, told BetaNews. "Everything we own or have rights to distribute, we do." Horn noted exceptions such as certain third party device drivers, which may be provided in binary form.

Licensees will be free to tinker with the source code in order to better tailor the operating system for their device or platform. These changes made to Windows CE will fall under two categories said Horn: core improvements to CE such as bug fixes and optimizations, and added features designed for a specific product.

But the underlying terms of the CEP reveal caveats to its seemingly open license. If a company makes general changes to improve the performance or quality of Windows CE, any such modifications are the property of Microsoft and may be included in future revisions of the operating system.

Those companies that modify the Windows CE source to include new features are given exclusive distribution rights for six months. After that period, Microsoft is granted what it calls a "sub-license" to use those changes as it sees fit. Partners will, however, retain ownership of the intellectual property.

Additionally, while system integrators and silicon vendors may join the CEP, only device manufacturers have the ability to ship custom code.

Hitachi will be the first licensee to release a product utilizing modifications to Windows CE. Hitachi customized the source code to match the unique user interface of its own software platform and screen resolution of its device.

Following the announcement of the new program, analysts and some developers publicly questioned the intentions of Microsoft, claiming the license will stifle smaller developers and primarily benefit Redmond itself.

Microsoft's Horn downplayed such concerns, stating the CEP is beneficial to all parties.

Horn cited ARM as an example of why a licensee making improvements to the OS would want Microsoft to be given those changes. "We improve Windows CE to work with their products and they provide us with right to use that code," Horn said. "It benefits everyone building a Windows CE device on ARM."

For companies developing feature modifications, Horn dispelled the possibility of Microsoft licensing those changes to a competitor after the six month exclusivity.

According to Horn, Microsoft has one "main tree" on which it develops Windows CE. This means the company will only provide to licensees code that has already been incorporated into the operating system, which is a time consuming process. "If we provide it, the burden is on us to support it," Horn said.

In addition, Horn told BetaNews the likelihood of Microsoft adding such modifications into the main code base is quite slim. "Embedded devices tend to be very unique," he said.

Partners could also opt to keep all source changes internal, and never worry about handing over code to Microsoft.

Microsoft has been working with partners to create the new CEP for quite some time. In the program's official announcement, Microsoft said 20 companies were already on board. "We're doing it because they asked us to do it," said Horn. "We wouldn't do anything to impact that partnership."

Horn also left open the possibility that Microsoft would further expand its Shared Source Initiative based on partner response. "We have several other licensing discussions ongoing," he said.