Licensing Windows-based Applications That Support Windows Media DRM
December 2006

You can distribute the standard versions of Windows Media Player, which include Windows Media digital rights management (DRM) support. You can also create and distribute Windows-based applications that support Windows Media DRM.

To learn more about the licensing steps for Windows Media DRM, review the following topics:
Licensing Windows Media Player 11
Licensing Windows Media Player 10
Licensing Windows Media Player 9 Series
Licensing a Windows-based Application That Plays, Burns, or Transfers Protected Content to Compatible Portable Devices

Licensing Windows Media Player 11
If you are a product vendor, publisher, or content or service provider, and you want to distribute the standard version of Windows Media Player 11, which includes Windows Media DRM, with your product or service, complete these steps:
Submit a "Windows Media Player 11 Distribution Agreement." To do so, complete the Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM Player 11 Distribution Agreement.
You must obtain the current license in order to distribute Windows Media Player as part of your application, on physical media, or from your Web site. The basic license covers the distribution of a customized version of the Player, distribution of the Player embedded in an application, and distribution of the Player through a Web site.
To review a sample of the "Microsoft Windows Media Technology Distribution Agreement: Windows Media Player 11," see the Sample Windows Media Licensing Agreements.
To display the appropriate Windows Media logo (optional), do the following:
To determine which logo you need, see Windows Media Logo Programs. Under the "Windows Media Player 11 Distribution Agreement," you will be qualified for the Plays Windows Media logo.
To submit a logo licensing request, complete a second Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM Logo Agreement (Plays, Compatible and/or HDCD).
To review a sample of the "Microsoft Windows Media & HDCD—Logo License Agreement," see the Sample Windows Media Licensing Agreements.

Back to Top

Licensing Windows Media Player 10
If you are a product vendor, publisher, or content or service provider, and you want to distribute the standard version of Windows Media Player 10, which includes Windows Media Digital Rights Management (DRM), with your product or service, complete these steps:
Submit a "Windows Media Player 10 Distribution Agreement." To do so, complete the Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM Player 10 Distribution Agreement.
You must obtain the current license in order to distribute Windows Media Player as part of your application, on physical media, or from your Web site. The basic license covers the distribution of a customized version of the Player, distribution of the Player embedded in an application, and distribution of the Player through a Web site.
To review a sample of the "Microsoft Windows Media Technology Distribution Agreement: Windows Media Player 10," see the Sample Windows Media Licensing Agreements.
To display the appropriate Windows Media logo (optional), do the following:
To determine which logo you need, see Windows Media Logo Programs. Under the "Windows Media Player 10 Distribution Agreement," you will be qualified for the Plays Windows Media logo.
To submit a logo licensing request, complete a second Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM Logo Agreement (Plays, Compatible and/or HDCD).
To review a sample of the "Microsoft Windows Media & HDCD—Logo License Agreement," see the Sample Windows Media Licensing Agreements.

Back to Top

Licensing Windows Media Player 9 Series
If you are a product vendor, publisher, or content or service provider, and you want to distribute the standard version of Windows Media Player 9 Series, which includes Windows Media DRM, with your product or service, complete these steps:
Submit a "Windows Media Player 9 Series Distribution Agreement." To do so, complete the Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM Player 9s Windows Distribution Agreement.
You must obtain the current license in order to distribute Windows Media Player as part of your application, on physical media, or from your Web site. The basic license covers the distribution of a customized version of the Player, distribution of the Player embedded in an application, and distribution of the Player through a Web site.
To review a sample of the "Microsoft Windows Media Technology Distribution Agreement: Windows Media Player 9 Series," see the Sample Windows Media Licensing Agreements.
To display the appropriate Windows Media logo (optional), do the following:
To determine which logo you need, see the Windows Media Logo Programs Web page. Under the "Windows Media Player 9 Series Distribution Agreement," you will be qualified for the Plays Windows Media logo.
To submit a logo licensing request, complete a second Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM Logo Agreement (Plays, Compatible and/or HDCD).
To review a sample of the "Microsoft Windows Media & HDCD—Logo License Agreement," see the Sample Windows Media Licensing Agreements.

Back to Top

Licensing a Windows-based Application That Plays, Burns, or Transfers Protected Content to Compatible Portable Devices
If you are an ISV or portable device manufacturer, and you want to create and distribute a Windows-based application that plays Windows Media DRM-protected content, burns content to CDs, or transfers content to compatible portable devices, complete these steps:
To get the tools for building and distributing your application, download the Windows Media Format 11 SDK for Windows Vista and Windows XP, or complete the Windows Media Format 9 Series SDK form for operating systems earlier than Windows XP. Accept the EULA to download the SDK.
To license your application to play, copy, edit, or transcode Windows Media DRM-protected content or to transfer content to a compatible portable device that has implemented Windows Media DRM 10, submit one of the following:
The "License Agreement for Certificates for Microsoft Windows Media Format version 11 Software Development Kit." To do so, complete the Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM DRM Certificates Agreement for Format SDK 11.
The “License Agreement for Certificates for Microsoft Windows Media Format (9 Series and Version 9.5) Software Development Kit.” To do so, complete the Microsoft License Request Form. Under Select License to Request, click WM DRM Certificates Agreement for Format SKD 9s and 9.5.
To review a sample of either license agreement, see the Sample Windows Media Licensing Agreements.
After you complete the license request form, Microsoft will send you an e-mail message within one or two business days that contains instructions for completing the license agreement process. Follow these instructions to obtain the necessary license agreements.
Sign and return the two printed license agreements, and obtain the requested code-signing certificate. You will use the code-signing certificate to digitally sign the blank OCX file provided with the agreement, and then send it to Microsoft. Microsoft will verify the signed file and counter-sign the license agreements. The license is granted within five business days of Microsoft receiving your signed license agreement and the signed file.
After the agreement is finalized, Microsoft will send you an e-mail message that contains the Windows Media DRM technologies that you need and the download instructions. Follow these instructions to download the Windows Media DRM deliverables. Microsoft will also send you a copy of your license agreement for your records.