Oxygen XML SDK Licensing Policy

Overview

The Oxygen XML Software Development Kit (named herein "SDK") is a toolkit that enables software developers to add new functionality to Oxygen XML Editor, interface it with external applications, make functional modifications, or simply change the look and feel. This page consolidates information about licenses and legal policies related to the SDK. If you still need additional information after reviewing this page, please feel free to ask questions at . Some general details about the SDK include the following:

  • The SDK is a supplementary product to Oxygen XML Editor, that is licensed and installed separately.
  • The SDK includes APIs, redistributable libraries, samples, and documentation.
  • The SDK is generally used by Syncro Soft Value Added Reseller (VAR) partners. A customer will see the need to use SDK in-house only in rare instances.
  • The versions of SDK are aligned with Oxygen XML Editor core releases.

Please note that the information provided in this document is intended as a guideline. Your legal right to use the features that SDK provides are stipulated in the Oxygen XML SDK license agreement. The SDK license has two (2) primary licensing components:

  • A Development License - allows a programmer to develop applications with the SDK.
  • A Deployment License - grants the right to deploy the resulting application containing SDK redistributable files to end-users.

Development License

A Development License is required to develop or maintain custom applications based on the SDK and grant you the right to install the SDK on a development machine and use the SDK for development of an end user application, by integrating certain redistributable libraries and files into your end user application using the SDK API, sample code, and documentation. A Development license is granted free of charge, subject to SDK Account Registration and terms and conditions of the SDK Agreement

Syncro Licensing Server

Development and testing of an application in which Author Component or Web Author Component are embedded requires some form of license management to monitor and control use of the SDK on a development phase and on prospect trials. Syncro Soft has invested in a flexible and centralized license management solution to make your development and testing phase as painless as possible. Syncro Soft can provide you (at your request) with access to this centralized "license server" that you can use to obtain licenses for your development or evaluation (the server is actually a floating license server able to dynamically allocate licenses to different users on demand).

To test the integration, you can proceed as follows:

  • For Plugins, Frameworks, or Eclipse Plugin extensions that works only within Oxygen XML (they cannot operate on their own) - use your own licensed Oxygen XML product.
  • For Author Component integrations - configure it to use your own Oxygen XML floating license server (if you have any), or request access to Syncro Licensing Server for development & tests in accordance with the SDK agreement.
  • For Web Author Component integrations- request access to Syncro Licensing Server for development & tests in accordance with the SDK agreement.

Technical support and access to additional releases and patches during the development period is provided at no charge to developers that owns regular Oxygen XML licenses and are covered by the Oxygen XML Support and Maintenance Pack. We encourage SDK developers to become licensed Oxygen XML users.

Note:

While the SDK contains easy-to-learn interfaces, you should expect there to be some learning processes involved. Training via our website (using demonstrations, webinars, forum, and documentation) will enable you to architect and develop your application based on the Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) included in the SDK. We recommend joining the SDK developer community (mail, forum) to discuss best practices since the forum is monitored and moderated by the Syncro development team.

Deployment License

SDK developers must obtain the appropriate Deployment License (issued upon payment of the required Deployment License fee) to copy the SDK intellectual property and deploy it along with the end user application developed with the SDK. After you purchase a deployment license, you obtain a license key that is checked at runtime when the SDK is invoked.

SDK deployment licensing requirements also vary depending upon the type of deployment being made by the customer (internal or commercial).

  • Internal Deployment - This is the case when you develop an application to be used only internally by your company (by employees, contractors, or by "captive customers" such as sales reps or dealers who regularly do business with you).
  • Commercial Deployment- This is the case when you build an application that will be redistributed, sold, or deployed to external customers (other organizations, individuals, or third parties) either directly or through distribution channels. This is typically when you act as an ISV or solution provider offering application to the public for license. For such partners, Syncro developed a Value Added Reseller Program including a VAR Portal (a VAR account is required before you can access this site).

Types of deployments are:

  • For Author Component: named-user and floating-user permanent licenses.
  • For Web Author Component: concurrent browser session subscriptions.

No deployment license fee is required for:

  • Plugins, new frameworks for XML document types, customization of an Oxygen frameworks for a default document type (DITA, DocBook, TEI, etc.) or extensions to access Oxygen XML Eclipse plugin features from your own Eclipse plugin, all of which works only within Oxygen (they cannot operate on their own). [ section Add-on - SDK]
  • Evaluation versions of the application (having the Author Component or Web Author Component activated through the Syncro Licensing Server) to your prospects provided the evaluation version expires within 30 days and provided that your Application is covered by an evaluation license agreement that provides that the prospect may only use it for evaluation purposes. If the Syncro Licensing Server is not an option, inform Syncro the moment you start deployment.
  • For Internal Deployments of Author Component, if you buy or use already purchased regular Oxygen XML Editor or Author floating licenses to enable the runtime usage of the Author Component as it was integrated into the application. This note is not valid for Web Author Component or commercial deployments where you need to buy new deployment licenses, since the licensing models are not compatible.
  • Up to ten (10) demonstration copies of the application (having the Author Component or Web Author Component activated through the Syncro Licensing Server) to your sales and support staff, for their use in connection with selling and supporting the application, as long as you have purchased at least an equal number of deployment licenses.

Support and Maintenance Pack

You can give your users the option to benefit from major new versions of the SDK as included in an upgrade of your application, by purchasing a Support and Maintenance Pack ("SMP") annual protection for each such deployment license.

The SMP annual protection must be purchased when the deployment license is originally acquired and coverage must be renewed annually during the SMP term without lapse. If you want to upgrade licenses that were not purchased with the SMP option at license acquisition, you will be required to purchase an upgrade deployment license.

Additional licensing requirements

Additional licensing requirements apply to applications developed using SDK:

  • SDK may only be used to develop "end user" applications. An end user application is an application for business or personal use that may not be copied or redistributed by the end user or used to develop software. SDK may not be used in a developer oriented product, such as a development toolkit.
  • The application developed with SDK must be distributed with an EULA, which prohibits reverse engineering, disassembly, modification and copying (other than for backup purposes), and which preserves Syncro Soft intellectual property rights in the SDK to a commercially reasonable degree.
  • Export Restrictions. Any application developed with SDK is subject to the US Export Regulations. Thus, an SDK customer may not ship the end user application to any country where US law restricts exports, such as Cuba, Sudan, Iran, or North Korea. (Please contact the US Import Control Agency for a current list of prohibited territories.)
  • You will be solely responsible for your applications and any services related with the application that you provide to your end-users. Syncro makes no warranty, and has no obligation to provide support or other services to your end users. You will defend and indemnify Syncro and its suppliers from any claims or liabilities arising from or related to your applications, including claims based on the performance or non-performance of the SDK. You must enter into transactions with your end users on your own account and not on behalf of Syncro.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following list provides answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Oxygen XML SDK licensing.