JPackage, WIX and license

Issue

We have JavaFx project and we want to create an installer for the application in Windows. Hence we are using JDK 17 - JPackage with WIX 3.x for creating the installer. But we note that the license for WIX is Microsoft Reciprocal license.

https://www.tldrlegal.com/license/microsoft-reciprocal-license-ms-rl

As we understand using the JPackage with WIX do not modify or distribute any WIX content as per the licensing terms. Note that we are not well versed with Windows OS / programming world, hence not sure WIX SDK or any other such features does have any implications in regard to MS RL. Hence we are only looking from Java / JDK 17 / JPacakge perspective and wanted to confirm if Jpackage + WIX is fine, any pointers are highly appreciated.

Solution

Taken from https://wixtoolset.org/docs/about/#license:

The WiX toolset is released under the Microsoft Reciprocal License (MS-RL). A reciprocal license is used to ensure that others who build on the effort of the WiX community give back to the WiX community. Specifically the license requires that fixes and improvements to the WiX toolset must be published using the same license. Sometimes the reciprocal license is incorrectly interpreted to also apply to bundles, packages, and custom actions built using the WiX toolset. The Outercurve Foundation has previously provided this statement below to clarify which now the .NET Foundation reaffirms: The WiX toolset (WiX) is licensed under the Microsoft Reciprocal License (MS-RL). The MS-RL governs the distribution of the software licensed under it, as well as derivative works, and incorporates the definition of a derivative work provided in U.S. copyright law. OuterCurve Foundation (and the .NET Foundation) does not view the installer packages generated by WiX as falling within the definition of a derivative work, merely because they are produced using WiX. Thus, the installer packages generated by WiX will normally fall outside the scope of the MS-RL, and any of your source code, binaries, libraries, routines or other software components that are incorporated in installer packages generated by WiX can be governed by other licensing terms. The full text of the MS-RL license is reproduced below. It can also be found in the LICENSE.TXT file included with the source code.

I am no lawyer, but the text marked up bold would tell me I should not worry about my creative work that uses WIX. Only if I modify/improve WIX itself the same license has to be applied.

Answered By - queeg