Microsoft will have to make changes in its source code if called upon to do so by the US Department of Defence to serve its objectives, according to a new US$927 million contract signed by the two entities.
The so-called Blue Badge Cardholder support that the contract affords the department "requires access rights to Microsoft's proprietary (closed-source) code, which is licensed under exclusive legal right of Microsoft, and are required to support the Department of Defense's mission," the contract specifies.
Microsoft first signed this kind of contract with the department in 2013 for US$412 million, according to a report in Ars Technica.
The cap of that contract was later raised to US$575 million in 2015.
{loadposition sam08}The contract specifies: "The core requirements are for the contractor to provide Microsoft consulting services that include software developers and product teams to leverage a variety of proprietary resources and source code, and Microsoft premier support services such as tools and knowledge bases, problem resolution assistance from product developers, and access to Microsoft source code when applicable to support Department of Defence's mission.
"Performance will predominantly be within the continental US; however, support services may also be required at multiple locations outside the continental US."