What are the legal restrictions for rolling out a Metro app to live production?

Question

Hi all,

I would like to know if there are any legal restrictions for us to deploy Metro style app into our production environment (corporate intranet). Our R&D team can't wait to get their hands dirty on Win8. We will develop and test the application using per-release versions of Windows 8 and Visual Studio 11 and plan to go for a seamless migration to RTM when it arrives hopefully in mid-late 2012. We are willing to take all the risks associated with per-release software.

Appreciate if any of you could guide us on this matter.

Thanks

Answer 1

On Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:25:15 +0000, Nilhan Uduwarage wrote:

I would like to know if there are any legal restrictions for us to deploy Metro style app into our production environment (corporate intranet). Our R&D team can't wait to get their hands dirty on Win8. We will develop and test the application using per-release versions of Windows 8 and Visual Studio 11 and plan to go for a seamless migration to RTM when it arrives hopefully in mid-late 2012. We are willing to take all the risks associated with per-release software.

Copied directly from the Windows 8 Developer Preview EULA:

1.   INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.

a.   Software License. You may install and test any number of copies of the
software on your premises.  You may not test the software in a live
operating environment unless Microsoft permits you to do so under another
agreement.

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Paul Adare
MVP - Forefront Identity Manager
http://www.identit.ca
I came, I saw, I deleted all your files.

Answer 2

Thanks for the quick reply Paul. I also read this to gratify the lawyers :)

Question is how to get this permission from Microsoft? Looks like I'm gonna have to talk to them directly, probably a licensing guy.

Answer 3

On Sun, 15 Jan 2012 07:40:59 +0000, Nilhan Uduwarage wrote:

Thanks for the quick reply Paul. I also read this to gratify the lawyers :)

Question is how to get this permission from Microsoft? Looks like I'm gonna have to talk to them directly, probably a licensing guy.

Microsoft typically runs programs such as a TAP or an RDP to allow early
adopters to use pre-release software in a live environment -
http://www.jamesserra.com/archive/2011/10/what-is-microsoft-tap-and-rdp/

These programs are run directly by the relevant product group. Talking to a
general "licensing guy" at Microsoft is not likely to do you any good.

If you have an EA or SA with Microsoft you should talk to your Microsoft
rep though Sinofsky tends to keep a fairly tight rein on access to Windows
8, I strongly doubt that you're going to have much luck here.

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Paul Adare
MVP - Forefront Identity Manager
http://www.identit.ca
The program is absolutely right; therefore, the computer must be wrong.

Answer 4

Thanks a lot Paul for putting me in the right direction. I too seriously doubt they give permission, but it's still worth giving a try. I'll let you know how it goes.