CE Source Code Program Expanded

Silicon vendors, device manufacturers, and system integrators who work with Windows CE now have the right to commercially redistribute versions of Microsoft’s source code that include custom modifications. The measure is part of an initiative to give the Windows CE development community access to virtually all of the source code for the system, and to compete with open-source OSs like Linux in the embedded space by enabling licensees to contribute more to Windows CE development and better differentiate their products. However, Microsoft also gets the right to redistribute, royalty-free, any source-code modifications made by licensees.

Derivatives Licensing Programs

The changes are included in two additions to Microsoft’s Shared Source Initiative, the umbrella under which Microsoft manages about a dozen specific programs for licensing access to the source code for Microsoft’s OSs and its Passport single-sign-on technology.

The two new programs—the Windows CE Shared Source Premium Derivatives Licensing Program (CEPD) and the Windows CE Shared Source Premium Derivatives Redistribution Licensing Program (CEPDR)—share the following major features: