App opens Windows for iPad, hit by licensing door

Microsoft: ‘OnLive Desktop may violate license’

OnLive’s Desktop and Desktop Plus services for iPad may violate licensing agreements with Microsoft.

The app, which makes it possible for users to stream Windows 7 applications such as Microsoft Office to their iPad, first drew scrutiny from analyst firm Gartner.

"Consumers will take interest in OnLive’s new offering for editing Microsoft documents on the iPad," said Gartner, "but enterprise leaders must ensure that users have proper Microsoft licensing before they use it for work tasks."

“Neither Microsoft nor OnLive has provided clear guidance on how users of these products must comply with Microsoft licensing requirements.”

Microsoft was not long in voicing its own concerns.

Joe Matz, vice president of worldwide licensing at Microsoft, responded in a blog post on Wednesday, restating the terms of the license agreement.

"It’s important to us and to our partners that we’re serious about issues of compliance," said Matz.

"We are actively engaged with OnLive with the hope of bringing them into a properly licensed scenario, and we are committed to seeing this issue is resolved."

OnLive has not yet made its own statement.

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