Licensing Windows Media Technologies to Create and Distribute Audio and Video Content

August 2005

As a content provider, service provider, independent software vendor (ISV), or Web developer, you can license the tools necessary to encode and stream Windows Media-based content for music and video services. No license fees or royalties apply.

To learn more about the licensing steps for Windows Media-based audio or video content services, review the following topics:

Licensing the Tools to Encode Content in Windows Media Format
Licensing the Tools to Automate the Encoding Process and Enable Remote Encoding
Licensing Windows Server 2003 to Stream Windows Media-based Content
Licensing a Customized Version of Windows Media Player

Licensing the Tools to Encode Content in Windows Media Format

You can encode content in Windows Media Format, and optionally encrypt (protect) that content. To obtain the necessary tools, download Windows Media Encoder 9 Series.

Development and distribution rights are defined by the end-user license agreement (EULA), which appears when you download Windows Media Encoder. Before you accept the EULA, read it carefully to verify that your intended use is covered.

To see partner offerings for professional content creators, see Third-Party Pro A/V Production Solutions.

To learn more about distributing products or services that incorporate Windows Media Encoder, see Licensing Windows Media Encoder.

Licensing the Tools to Automate the Encoding Process and Enable Remote Encoding

You can automate the encoding process for custom applications and services, and enable remote encoding of Windows Media-based content. To obtain the necessary tools, download the Windows Media Encoder 9 Series SDK.

Development and distribution rights for the Windows Media Encoder 9 Series SDK are defined by the EULA, which appears when you download the SDK. Before you accept the EULA, read it carefully to verify that your intended use is covered.

To learn more about distributing products or services that incorporate Windows Media Encoder, see Licensing Windows Media Encoder.

Licensing Windows Server 2003 to Stream Windows Media-based Content

You can stream Windows Media-based content by using Windows Server 2003. To do so, obtain the appropriate license for Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition, or Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition. For more information, see Decide which version of Windows Server is right for you.

Licensing a Customized Version of Windows Media Player

You can create and distribute a customized version of Windows Media Player with custom skins, visualizations, or plug-ins. For more information about the technologies and licenses that you'll need, see Licensing Windows-based Products or Services That Support Windows Media.