Visual C++ runtime library and Microsoft .NET Framework runtime installer licensing

Question

Visual C++ runtime library and Microsoft .NET Framework runtime installer licensing

Conmunicaz Libr 1

I use "Microsoft Visual Studio Installer Projects" to build installer for my software, it require "Visual C++ runtime library" and "Microsoft .NET Framework" as prerequisites.
Do I need a license to provide to my customer the installer with these prerequisites included?

David Lowndes 4,726 Reputation points

2021-12-13T16:46:06.987+00:00

Have you seen here and here?
Conmunicaz Libr 1 Reputation point

2021-12-13T16:54:21.267+00:00

I have read EULA, the clause that I concerned is highlighted below:

·SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways. You may not

· work around any technical limitations in the software;

· reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the software except, and only to the extent required by third party licensing terms governing the use of certain open source components that may be included in the software;

· remove, minimize, block or modify any notices of Microsoft or its suppliers in the software;

· use the software in any way that is against the law;

· share, publish, rent or lease the software; or
· provide the software as a stand-alone offering or combined with any of your applications for others to use, or transfer the software or this agreement to any third party
David Lowndes 4,726 Reputation points

2021-12-13T17:03:53.033+00:00

Defer the interpretation of such things to your friendly lawyer :)
Minxin Yu 13,501 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-12-14T08:21:18.103+00:00

Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts with us. Since your question is more related to license, you can go to Visual Studio Subscription Support for help.

1 answer

Your answer

David Lowndes 4,726 Reputation points

2021-12-13T16:46:06.987+00:00

Have you seen here and here?
Conmunicaz Libr 1 Reputation point

2021-12-13T16:54:21.267+00:00

I have read EULA, the clause that I concerned is highlighted below:

·SCOPE OF LICENSE. The software is licensed, not sold. This agreement only gives you some rights to use the software. Microsoft reserves all other rights. Unless applicable law gives you more rights despite this limitation, you may use the software only as expressly permitted in this agreement. In doing so, you must comply with any technical limitations in the software that only allow you to use it in certain ways. You may not

· work around any technical limitations in the software;

· reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble the software, or otherwise attempt to derive the source code for the software except, and only to the extent required by third party licensing terms governing the use of certain open source components that may be included in the software;

· remove, minimize, block or modify any notices of Microsoft or its suppliers in the software;

· use the software in any way that is against the law;

· share, publish, rent or lease the software; or
· provide the software as a stand-alone offering or combined with any of your applications for others to use, or transfer the software or this agreement to any third party
David Lowndes 4,726 Reputation points

2021-12-13T17:03:53.033+00:00

Defer the interpretation of such things to your friendly lawyer :)
Minxin Yu 13,501 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-12-14T08:21:18.103+00:00

Thanks for taking time to share your thoughts with us. Since your question is more related to license, you can go to Visual Studio Subscription Support for help.

Answer 1

Every Visual Studio version has a DISTRIBUTABLE CODE section in the EULA. The VC runtime and the .Net Framework (when available) are among the listed redistributables.

E.g. this is in Visual Studio 2022 EULA:

4 DISTRIBUTABLE CODE. The software contains code that you may distribute in applications you develop as described in this Section. For purposes of this Section 4, the term “distribution” also means deployment of your applications for third parties to access over the Internet.

a. Right to Use and Distribute. The code and text files listed below are “Distributable Code”.

i. Distributable List. You may copy and distribute the object code form of code listed on the Distributable List located at https://aka.ms/vs/17/redistribution.

This is in Visual Studio 6 EULA

3.2 Redistributable Code-Standard. Microsoft grants you a nonexclusive, royalty-free right to reproduce and distribute the object code form of any portion of the SOFTWARE PRODUCT listed in REDIST.TXT ("Redistributable Code") . NOTE: certain Redistributable Code may be subject to the restrictions in Section 3.3 if it is also identified as "Limited Use Redistributable Code."

Note: you may obtain prerequisites from other sources, such as other versions of Visual Studio, or another Installer authoring program. If you include a file that is not from your current Visual Studio version, you need to follow the EULA that applies to the file.

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Visual C++ runtime library and Microsoft .NET Framework runtime installer licensing

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Your answer