Applies To: All Direct Partners (OEM, IoT, ODM)
Introduction
In early 2017, Microsoft announced the introduction of the Global Partner Agreement, to replace the existing Master Licensing Agreement structure. Commencing on August 1, 2017, and expiring on July 31, 2018, the Global Partner Agreement “version 1” (GPAv1) was made available for a one-year inaugural term to partners licensing directly from Microsoft. This communication is intended to kick-off the cycle of document delivery and review between Microsoft and our partners leading up to the delivery of a new Global Partner Agreement “version 2” (GPAv2). For many years this cycle has been known as the “OST Cycle;” moving forward OST is replaced with this Agreement Renewal Cycle, or ARC. The FY19 ARC will replace the expiring GPAv1 with the new GPAv2 and become the primary core terms available to all direct partners starting August 1, 2018. An important element of the FY19 ARC is the introduction of the Licensing & Programs Resource Center on Device Partner Center. Additional details are included in this communication.
Call to action
- MS Account Managers: Review this partner-facing communication and share the link to this page with your applicable accounts, who will see all content appropriate for their roles. Contact Martha Minier, Sr. Business Program Manager for GPA, with questions.
- Partners: Contact your account manager with questions.
Details
Licensing & Programs Resource Center
Launching on January 19, 2018, the Licensing & Programs Resource Center on DPC will provide a single portal experience for partners seeking up-to-date licensing and program information. During the course of the FY19 ARC, you will have access to current (active) versions of GPAv1 licensing modules such as the Global Partner Terms (GPT), Device Partner Terms (DPT), Program Appendixes (PAX), Program Execution Guides (PEG), Price Lists, and Product Terms. As draft versions of the GPAv2 documents become available for review, they will be presented side-by-side with the current versions, along with any relevant communications or supporting documents. In addition, the Resource Center provides links to any additional program documents that may apply to you.
Global Partner Agreement version 2 FY19 Agreement Renewal Cycle (ARC)
The FY19 ARC starts with this introductory communication, which provides details on the following key topics:
- ARC timeline
- ARC Documents
ARC Timeline
- Two versions of each of the GPAv2 documents will be provided to partners during the FY19 ARC, a Preview Edition and a Final Edition. Microsoft encourages all partners to participate in the opportunity to provide feedback on the Preview Editions during the feedback period identified in the schedule below. Final Editions will be available for execution by partners as early as mid-May, but will not be effective until August 1, 2018. Key dates are:
- February 9, 2018: Preview Editions published on the Licensing & Programs Resource Center
- February 9, 2018 – March 16, 2018: Preview Editions out for partner review; feedback due to Microsoft March 16, 2018. Detailed information on how to provide feedback will be included with the February 9th publications
- May 11, 2018: Final Editions published on the Licensing & Programs Resource Center
- August 1, 2018: GPAv2 effective date
ARC Documents
- The FY19 ARC covers the Global Partner Terms, Device Partner Terms, Program Appendixes, and Program Execution Guides. Please note that Product Terms, Price Lists, and Program Letters are NOT included under the FY19 ARC, as they are now on a separate document delivery cycle directly associated with product launches.
Publication of Preview Editions of the covered licensing modules will include the following:
- Key changes summary of highlighted major changes from GPAv1
- Preview Edition Global Partner Terms: clean, redline compared to GPTv1, section-by-section mapping document of changes
- Preview Edition Device Partner Terms: clean, redline compared to DPTv1, section-by-section mapping document of changes
- Preview Edition Program Appendixes: clean, redline compared to PAXv1
- Preview Edition Program Execution Guides: clean, redline compared to PEGv1