Shared source |
Shared source is a type of licensing program that allows controlled access to full or limited amounts of product source code. It is not a particular license, as there are several different shared source programs, each with their own license and varying restrictions.
The term is typically used to refer to Microsoft s Shared Source Initiative, though the use as a generic licensing term is growing more widespread. Shared source licensing is also used by other projects and companies, such as Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems.
Though shared source licensing allows for source code access, it is not open source according to the Open Source Definition, because none of the license programs allows for commercial use of modified code. Most programs restrict code access to particular groups, institutions, or partners. Some programs, such as the Shared Source Common Language Infrastructure, allow non-commercial modification and redistribution of code by any users. However, #Enterprise Source Licensing Program allows only government institutions to view (but not modify or redistribute) the code.
= Benefits of shared source =
Shared source licenses provide a number of benefits to end users that are not present in typical proprietary software licenses. Primary among these is the availability of source code for reference when developing complimentary systems. For example, having the source code to significant portions of an operating system aids application developers in maintaining stability and consistency in their own programs. The availability of source code also permits review and auditing from a security perspective, something which many large corporations and governments are now mandating.
Shared source benefits the copyright holder in that much tighter control is kept over the use of their product than open source licenses, which generally include the voluntary abdication of many of the author s rights. From the perspective of companies which are used to developing proprietary software, this is a smaller transition to make, and may be seen as an interim step to full open source disclosure.
From an end-user and original author perspective, shared source licenses share many of the benefits (and drawbacks) of open source licenses. However, from a downstream developer s standpoint, shared source licenses stop well short of the rights granted by an open source license. This difference is the source of much of the criticism leveled against shared source (see below).
=Notable shared source programs=
==Microsoft Enterprise Source Licensing==
Microsoft gives government organizations (as well as enterprise customers) access to some versions of the Microsoft Windows operating systems. This is among the most restrictive of the Shared Source licenses, allowing no modifications of the code.
The program started in July, 2003, as an effort to win lucrative government contracts, and as a response to the growing popularity of Linux. The program was originally known as the Government Software Program.
==Microsoft Windows Academic Licensing==
This program makes Windows kernel technologies and code available to universities for teaching purposes. The program also includes curriculum resources and projects.
==Microsoft Shared Source Common Language Infrastructure==
The first widely-distributed shared source license program is Shared Source Common Language Infrastructure, the shared source implementation of the Common Language Infrastructure. The licensing permits non-commercial modification and distribution of the source code, as long as all distributions include the original license, or one encompassing the original terms.
=Criticism=
Shared source critics often see shared source licenses as no better (in terms of software freedom ), or in some case worse, than proprietary licenses. Free software pioneer Richard Stallman has said that Shared Source is just another name for a nondisclosure agreement . Prominent open source figure Bruce Perens has described its policies as look but don t touchand we control everything . [http://www.perens.com/Articles/StandTogether.html]
Some people see Shared Source as Microsoft s attempt to profit from the public image of goodwill and volunteer work that follows most free software and open source software projects.
Others fear that viewing Shared Source may taint a developer with knowledge of licensed code, preventing participation in other projects where such code may be inadvertently used in violation of the shared source license.
=Links and references=
==References==
==External links==
==See also==
|
|