License for redistributing patched uxtheme.dll

[giorgio.tani]

Hi, I'm writing a freeware (to be released under GPLv2 license or maybe
GPLv3) to allow XP to load non digitally signed themes.
In few words, to obtain that result the software need to patch
uxtheme.dll (likewise StyleXP does).
My problem: I found many online sources where the patched uxtheme.dll
can be downloaded, stating that that file is distributed as "freeware",
but I didn't managed to find a real, complete license statement about
that file. No source seem to clearly state under what license is that
file released.
My question: could someone kindly provide here to me detailed
information about licensing of that file?
What I would like to do is to redistribute it along with my software
package in order to avoid to the users the need of a separate download
for uxtheme.dll.
The file will obviously even be redistributed with his own specific
license if it is different or non compatible with GPL, that is the
license of the other components of my package (my software to apply the
patch, some styles and so on).
Thank you all for the attention.

 

[Galen]

In (e-mail address removed) had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Hi, I'm writing a freeware (to be released under GPLv2 license or
maybe GPLv3) to allow XP to load non digitally signed themes.
In few words, to obtain that result the software need to patch
uxtheme.dll (likewise StyleXP does).
My problem: I found many online sources where the patched uxtheme.dll
can be downloaded, stating that that file is distributed as
"freeware", but I didn't managed to find a real, complete license
statement about that file. No source seem to clearly state under what
license is that file released.
My question: could someone kindly provide here to me detailed
information about licensing of that file?
What I would like to do is to redistribute it along with my software
package in order to avoid to the users the need of a separate download
for uxtheme.dll.
The file will obviously even be redistributed with his own specific
license if it is different or non compatible with GPL, that is the
license of the other components of my package (my software to apply
the patch, some styles and so on).
Thank you all for the attention.

Head here:

http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/permission/default.mspx

That won't have your answer - I looked. So, at the bottom of that page hit
the contact us option and pose your question.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/

"At present I am, as you know, fairly busy, but I propose to devote my
declining years to the composition of a textbook which shall focus the
whole art of detection into one volume." - Sherlock Holmes

 

[giorgio.tani]

Head here:

http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/permission/default.mspx
That won't have your answer - I looked. So, at the bottom of that page hit
the contact us option and pose your question.

Thank you anyway for your response, however, as I said in the OP I
would need not to redistribute the MS's .dll but the patched ones (and
there is no information if they were cleanly rewritten or modified from
the original ones), so contact who own the IP rights on the *wrong*
file would not help me nor clarify the IP position of those different
files.

 

[Galen]

In (e-mail address removed) had this to say:

My reply is at the bottom of your sent message:

Thank you anyway for your response, however, as I said in the OP I
would need not to redistribute the MS's .dll but the patched ones (and
there is no information if they were cleanly rewritten or modified
from the original ones), so contact who own the IP rights on the
*wrong* file would not help me nor clarify the IP position of those
different files.

My understanding of your question is you want to redistribute an altered
copy of "uxtheme.dll" and that would mean that you'd need to go to the
vendor of said DLL directly to ask permission. As this appears to be
Microsoft you'd want to go to them and a) get permission to alter it b) pay
any licensing fees c) agree to any distribution rules/licensing rules d) do
so...

The only URL that I'm aware of to contact Microsoft for such things is the
URL above and that's the rather generic page. If it's not owned/created by
Microsoft in the first place then you'll need to go to the owner of the
dynamic link library for permissions. Distribution of a patched file that is
owned by Microsoft with GPL and then altered might be illegal so asking them
(the folks at that link) is likely the best option at this point and if not
(I've contact them personally before and had no problems at all and got all
the help I needed) they'll likely help you out if they know the answer too.

--
Galen - MS MVP - Windows (Shell/User & IE)
http://dts-l.org/
http://kgiii.info/

"At present I am, as you know, fairly busy, but I propose to devote my
declining years to the composition of a textbook which shall focus the
whole art of detection into one volume." - Sherlock Holmes