http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlheroes/archive/tags/license/default.aspxTags: licenseen-USCommunityServer 2.1 SP1 (Build: 61025.2)http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlheroes/archive/2008/04/18/what-is-the-ms-pl-why-do-i-need-one.aspxFri, 18 Apr 2008 20:26:18 GMT91d46819-8472-40ad-a661-2c78acb4018c:8408475reedme0http://blogs.msdn.com/sqlheroes/comments/8408475.aspxhttp://blogs.msdn.com/sqlheroes/commentrss.aspx?PostID=8408475<p>Instead of cribbing the whole text of the Ms-PL and dropping it here, I'll just refer you to the source:</p> <p><a href="http://www.microsoft.com/opensource/licenses.mspx#Ms-PL" target="_blank">Open Source at Microsoft: Licenses: Microsoft Public License (Ms-PL)</a></p> <p>That hopefully answers the "what" question.</p> <p>The "why" question is a little more interesting... You need one because:</p> <ol> <ol> <li>Your contest entry must be Ms-PL-ed to be considered for a finalist and/or a winner.</li> <li>You need it to protect your own copyright and intellectual property.</li> <li>Your users need it so that they can legally use it, grow it and extend it.</li></ol></ol> <p>Oh, and since it's pretty short, you should probably read it... especially 3(D) which says (paraphrased): "Don't forget to include a copy of the license in your distribution somewhere."</p> <p>Good luck!!</p><img src="http://blogs.msdn.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=8408475" width="1" height="1">official contest rulesyouopen sourcelicense