Microsoft has designed the Work Group Server Protocol Program (WSPP) to meet the obligation to make protocol technology available to relevant undertakings and to allow the use of its technology in the manner required by the European Commission's Decision issued on March 24, 2004 ("Decision"). In this regard, Microsoft has established the licensing program described on this Web site, in consultation with the Commission.

The WSPP provides access to protocols that are used by Windows Server operating systems to provide file, print, and user and group administration services to Windows work group networks.

The WSPP protocols are licensed to enable non-Windows server software to interoperate with Windows server operating systems and desktop operating systems to provide file, print and user and group administration services. Consistent with industry practice, licensees of these protocols must pay specified royalties for the use of certain licensed communications protocols and associated intellectual property. The WSPP Agreement is available, click here (pdf file, 949 KB).

For purposes of the WSPP, a communications protocol is the set of rules for information exchange to accomplish predefined tasks between a client computer and server computer connected by a network. These rules govern the format, semantics, timing, sequencing, and error control messages exchanged over a network.

Microsoft is generally willing to provide broader usage rights for the company's protocol technology than is specifically addressed in the WSPP Web site or required by the European Commission's Decision. Please contact the WSPP Licensing Team to explore possible licensing structures that might fit your business needs.

Possibly. Microsoft is willing to help identify possible solutions for your specific requirements regarding the protocol technology. Please contact the WSPP Licensing Team.

The WSPP Agreement is a patent license only. The documentation for the protocols is published on MSDN.

For new or changed covered protocols, updated documentation will be provided as described on the WSPP website.

Yes. Licensees may elect to receive free managed technical support from Microsoft. Under a separate addendum, licensees may also elect to obtain access to Windows server source code. WSPP licensees are also entitled to attend plugfests and to schedule time in Microsoft’s Interop Lab to test their implementations.

Anyone is eligible to participate by entering into a WSPP Agreement. The WSPP Agreement requires prepayment of royalties; otherwise, there are no program entry requirements.

The term of the WSPP Development Agreement is five years. After the agreement expires, certain development and distribution rights continue indefinitely, subject to applicable royalty obligations and termination provisions.

Microsoft has established five different royalty models for products implementing these protocols. Each scenario or task is associated with one or more royalty models. The five royalty models are (1) Fully paid up, (2) Flat fee per unit, (3) Percentage of net revenue royalties, (4) Royalty free and (5) Flexible Income Approach.

Prepaid royalties are nonrefundable. However, they are fully applied toward royalty payments accrued under the agreement.