Microsoft Action Pack Visual Studio license limitations

[MrGray]

Apparently Microsoft has been phoning ISV's who use the action pack subscription for development and warning them that the license for the Visual Studio Professional included in the MAPS package only allows it to be used for developing a product that many clients use and cannot be used to develop an application customised for one specific client.

And of course, if you'd like to buy a fully licensed version of Visual Studio Pro they just happen to have a 20% discount available...

So basically, all software in MAPS is fine for internal use, except for Visual Studio if you happen to use it for custom software, although it's fine if you develop a the same package or website for multiple clients.

Really, Microsoft? Just... really?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Apparently Microsoft has been phoning ISV's who use the action pack subscription for development and warning them that the license for the Visual Studio Professional included in the MAPS package only allows it to be used for developing a product that many clients use and cannot be used to develop an application customised for one specific client.

And of course, if you'd like to buy a fully licensed version of Visual Studio Pro they just happen to have a 20% discount available...

So basically, all software in MAPS is fine for internal use, except for Visual Studio if you happen to use it for custom software, although it's fine if you develop a the same package or website for multiple clients.

Really, Microsoft? Just... really?

Yes really..

Its a licensing limitation, and MS are not the only ones to have such limitations in their licensing.

 

[MrGray]

Yes really..

Its a licensing limitation, and MS are not the only ones to have such limitations in their licensing.

Maybe not, but this one is a little absurd and arbitrary and clearly aimed at making all the small custom software houses that have happily legally used the action pack (some for decades) cough up for full license fees. It is becoming more apparent that MS is not the friend of smaller businesses, which seems quite short sighted given the open source alternatives.

 

[DominionZA]

Used to use the Action Pack. Moved to the BizSpark programme a while back. So much more for devs. Never read the licensing requirements though.

 

[MrGray]

Used to use the Action Pack. Moved to the BizSpark programme a while back. So much more for devs. Never read the licensing requirements though.

Bizspark is only available for startups less than 5yrs old and again, only for developing products not custom software for clients.

 

[Fudzy]

Bizspark is only available for startups less than 5yrs old and again, only for developing products not custom software for clients.

What is the logic behind that? Unless you're developing a rather dumb widget each piece of software is going to have something that identifies itself from the next, whether it be customer details or version control.

 

[MrGray]

What is the logic behind that? Unless you're developing a rather dumb widget each piece of software is going to have something that identifies itself from the next, whether it be customer details or version control.

The idea is that if you're a start up with some great idea, the next Facebook, or Twitter or something, you can get cheap MS software to develop your offering - you're not supposed to use it write client software. It has to be used on a core part of your own "product", be it a website and/or app. MS used to not care too much, but now they seem to be turning the screws.