Following are questions that people commonly ask about the licensing of Microsoft® Agent. Additionally, there are also Frequently Asked Questions about the use and licensing of the Genie, Merlin, Peedy and Robby Microsoft Agent characters available.

The use of Microsoft Agent and the Genie, Merlin, Peedy and Robby characters is subject to the terms set forth in the applicable End User License Agreement (“EULA”). The information provided here imposes no obligations upon Microsoft and confers no rights to the parties. It is provided for informational purposes only and neither limits nor expands the rights set forth in the applicable EULA. The information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties.

• Where is it written what I am allowed to do and what I am restricted from doing with Microsoft Agent?
• What is the difference between the End-user License Agreement for Microsoft Agent and a distribution license for Microsoft Agent?
• I installed one of the Lernout & Hauspie text-to-speech (TTS) engines that are available from the Downloads page for use and development with Microsoft Agent applications. Am I also licensed to use, develop and distribute this text-to-speech (TTS) engine in other applications that are not enabled with Microsoft Agent and visibly displayed Microsoft Agent characters?
• What notices do I have to put in my applications and Web sites that use Microsoft Agent? Where do these notices need to be placed?
• Instead of placing notices for the use of the Microsoft Agent characters Genie, Peedy, Merlin or Robby in applications and Web sites as required by the End-user License Agreement, would it be acceptable to use the Download button images as a substitute?
• What happened to the Logo Program for Microsoft Agent?

• I built an application with Microsoft Agent, can I distribute Microsoft Agent along with my application?
• How much will a distribution license cost me to distribute Microsoft Agent along with my application?
• Do I need to have separate distribution licenses for each of the applications which I will be distributing Microsoft Agent with?
• The distribution license for Microsoft Agent doesn't mention distribution for computers running the Windows XP (or Windows 2000 or Windows Me) operating systems. Why can't I distribute Microsoft Agent to computers with these operating systems?
• The term of agreement for the distribution license automatically terminates after one (1) year. Can I get another distribution license if I want to continue distributing Microsoft Agent with my application(s)?

• I built my Microsoft Agent enabled application to use one of the supplied Lernout & Hauspie text-to-speech (TTS) engines that are available from the Downloads page. Can I also distribute the speech engine with my Microsoft Agent application? Do I have to get a distribution license from them too?
• I have a current distribution license for Microsoft Agent, does this also allow me to distribute the Speech components of Microsoft (like the English language speech recognition engine and SAPI 4 runtime support) that can be found on the Microsoft Agent Downloads Web page and used with Microsoft Agent?
• If I have a current distribution license for Microsoft Agent, can I also distribute the Microsoft Agent Character Editor and Microsoft Linguistic Information Sound Editing Tool?

General

Where is it written what I am allowed to do and what I am restricted from doing with Microsoft Agent?

Microsoft Agent is protected by copyright laws and international copyright treaties, as well as other intellectual property laws and treaties. Your rights and limitations with respect to Microsoft Agent and its components are described in the End-user License Agreement for Microsoft Agent.

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What is the difference between the End-user License Agreement for Microsoft Agent and a distribution license for Microsoft Agent?

The End-user License Agreement for Microsoft Agent provides rights for standard use and development use of Microsoft Agent but not for distribution of Microsoft Agent and its components.

Distribution of Microsoft Agent and its components additionally requires a current, valid distribution license, entitled License and Distribution Agreement (Microsoft Agent). This License and Distribution Agreement also incorporates the entirety of the End-user License Agreement for Microsoft Agent, described above.

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I installed one of the Lernout & Hauspie text-to-speech (TTS) engines that are available from the Downloads page for use and development with Microsoft Agent applications. Am I also licensed to use, develop and distribute these text-to-speech (TTS) engines in other applications that are not enabled with Microsoft Agent and visibly displayed Microsoft Agent characters?

The license terms for the Lernout & Hauspie text-to-speech (TTS) engines that are available from the Downloads page are displayed for acceptance during their installation. These text-to-speech engines are made available solely for use with applications and Web sites that are enabled with Microsoft Agent and visibly displayed Microsoft Agent characters. They are not licensed for use, development and distribution with other applications.

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What notices do I have to put in my applications and Web sites that use Microsoft Agent and Where do these notices need to be placed?

According to the End-user License Agreement for Microsoft Agent, inclusion or usage of Microsoft Agent on a Web site requires the notice “Uses Microsoft Agent technology” be placed on the introductory page where Microsoft Agent is used. Use of Microsoft Agent in an application requires the notice "Includes Microsoft Agent technology" in the applications copyright information or packaging.

Additionally, if your application or Web page uses the Microsoft Agent characters Genie, Peedy, Merlin or Robby, a copyright notice is required stating the character's name and "(c) 1996-1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved." This copyright notice should be placed with the application or Web site's copyright information or adjacent to the character's image (where such image use is permitted).

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Instead of placing notices for the use of the Microsoft Agent characters Genie, Peedy, Merlin or Robby in applications and Web sites as required by the End-user License Agreement, would it be acceptable to use the Download button images as a substitute?

No, the Download button images are not an acceptable substitute for the notices of the use of the Microsoft Agent characters Genie, Peedy, Merlin or Robby in applications and Web sites as required by the End-user License Agreement.

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What happened to the Logo Program for Microsoft Agent?

Microsoft has discontinued the Uses Microsoft Agent Technology logo program. As such, no new product is eligible for this logo.

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Distribution licenses

I built an application with Microsoft Agent, can I distribute Microsoft Agent along with my application?

Microsoft Agent is already widely installed on millions of computers as part of the Microsoft Windows Me, Windows 2000 and Windows XP operating systems. Even millions of computers running prior Windows operating systems will have Microsoft Agent installed from Microsoft Office 2000 and Office XP applications, and other third party Microsoft Agent applications.

For the remaining computers running prior Windows operating systems but without Microsoft Agent already installed, you can script your Web pages to automatically download and install Microsoft Agent from Microsoft's Internet servers when the page is loaded. The HTML scripting necessary to accomplish this is described elsewhere. Such use is already covered in the End-user License agreement for Microsoft Agent and a distribution license for Microsoft Agent is not also required.

Using this same Web page scripting method to cause automatic downloads, but from servers other than those of Microsoft on the Internet, does require you to obtain a distribution license.

Application developers who wish to distribute Microsoft Agent and any of its components (whether electronically, via physical media or otherwise) as part of their Microsoft Agent application, also must obtain a distribution license.

This distribution license is required of any individual or company that wishes to distribute any Microsoft Agent component, regardless of whether the application is for profit, or not.

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How much will a distribution license cost me to distribute Microsoft Agent along with my application?

A distribution license for Microsoft Agent is royalty-free, regardless of whether the application is for profit, or not. There is no processing or application fee to obtain a distribution license.

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Do I need to have separate distribution licenses for each of the applications which I will be distributing Microsoft Agent with?

A separate distribution license is required per licensee (whether an individual or other entity). An individual or other entity only requires one (1) current distribution license, even if they are distributing multiple applications with Microsoft Agent.

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The distribution license for Microsoft Agent doesn't mention distribution for computers running the Windows XP (or Windows 2000 or Windows Me) operating systems. Why can't I distribute Microsoft Agent to computers with these operating systems?

Computers running the Windows XP, Windows 2000 and Windows Me operating systems already have Microsoft Agent installed on them. There is no need for you to distribute Microsoft Agent to install on these computers.

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The term of agreement for the distribution license automatically terminates after one (1) year. Can I get another distribution license subsequently if I want to continue distributing Microsoft Agent with my application(s)?

Renewal of distribution licenses is not automatic. Return to the Microsoft Agent licensing page for renewal instructions and information about the then current terms and conditions available. Note that while there are no plans to discontinue availability of Microsoft Agent, neither is there an obligation to continue to make Microsoft Agent available for distribution.

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Distributing other Microsoft Agent components

I built my Microsoft Agent enabled application to use one of the supplied Lernout & Hauspie text-to-speech (TTS) engines that are available from the Downloads page. Can I also distribute the speech engine with my Microsoft Agent application? Do I have to get a distribution license from them too?

These particular Lernout & Hauspie speech engines are licensed by Microsoft only for use with Microsoft Agent-enabled Web sites and applications. The licensing for these speech engines are displayed for your acceptance during their installation process. You may distribute these speech engines along with your Microsoft Agent enabled application if you have a current distribution license for the Microsoft Agent technology.

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I have a current distribution license for Microsoft Agent, does this also allow me to distribute the speech components of Microsoft (like the English language speech recognition engine and SAPI 4 runtime support) that can be found on the Microsoft Agent Downloads Web page and used with Microsoft Agent?

No, the distribution license for Microsoft Agent does not provide for the re-distribution of these speech components by other developers. These components are developed and administered by the Speech group at Microsoft and are not specific to Microsoft Agent. Refer to the Speech group regarding re-distribution of their speech components.

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If I have a current distribution license for Microsoft Agent, can I also distribute the Microsoft Agent Character Editor and Microsoft Linguistic Information Sound Editing Tool?

No, there is no third-party distribution of these tools available. These tools may be obtained by downloading them from the Microsoft Download Center or as part of software development kits that Microsoft may provide.

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General FAQs

FAQs about usage of the Genie, Merlin, Peedy and Robby characters

FAQs about custom Microsoft Agent characters and their creation

FAQs about speech

FAQs about developing

FAQs about distributing Microsoft Agent

FAQs introductory page

Back to the Microsoft Agent home page