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Redmond, WA - Microsoft announced today the availability of a several
services and products relating to their various End User License
Agreements or EULA, including monthly subscriptions on DVD.
Microsoft's Herman Warren, Chief EULA Officer, called the DVD subscriptions "the
legal equivalent of the MSDN."
"Developers usually have all the resources they require ," said
Warren, "but the legal department has so far had a very hard
time getting the facts they need. This program will change that."
 The
goal of the Microsoft EULA Services Program (MSESP) is to help users
better know what they may and may not do with the software, with
special emphasis on number of licenses and intended use.
Also announced was two new MCPs, EULA Implementor and EULA Administrator.
The "E-Implementor" MCP covers such activities as pre-installation
employee background checks, setting up biometric facilities, and
linking existing closed-circuit cameras to the Microsoft License
Link Network, using .NET technology. The "E-Administrator" MCP
covers day-to-day tasks such as drug testing, regular keyboard fingerprinting,
and water cooler bug maintenance.
"The interests of your company and the interests of Microsoft
are the same," said Warren. "Does a person have a record
of substance abuse, CD burning, or flippant remarks? Is he or she
likely to leave a computer logged in so other people can use his
or her installed applications? Will he or she make copies of anything?
Joke about your company or, worse, about Microsoft?"
Subscribers to the MSESP will have access to a special database
where they can find whether prospective employees are flagged as
Green, Amber, or Red. A Green rating means the user is considered
a "low risk" when it comes to casual copying, divulging
secrets and "disrespectful behavior." Each confirmed or
suspected transgression moves the user towards an Amber or even a
Red rating.
Warren described the checks as "very thorough," adding "We
are serious about intellectual property rights." Stella Kozlovsky
of Kansas City, MO, agreed. "Back in fifth grade I told Mel
[Brown] that Jen [Thonklin] had a crush on Brad [Aaronsen]," said
Kozlovsky. "Well, apparently Jen now works for Microsoft, because
I have an Amber rating, and I've never so much as touched a CD-R."
Using new AppESP.NET technology, applications will automatically
adapt to the security level of the user. A Green user will be able
to use all the features, whereas Amber and Red users will have access
to a limited subset thereof, and may face additional restrictions.
For example, Amber level users will not be able to use macros, and
Red level users may only access Microsoft applications if they are
using "thin clients," with no floppy drives, CD/DVD writers
or external ports.
MSESP requires digital rights management, and will only run on Windows
XP. The EULA for the MSESP is available as an interactive DVD or
a set of 5 CDs, and can be ordered from your authorized reseller
or directly from Microsoft.
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