5 ms·

I wonder, do they sell retail licence or re-sell OEM licence at retail price? Anyway, I'm not sure if anyone really buys Windows at retail prices. Enterprise (

by reisse 4y ago

I wonder, do they sell retail licence or re-sell OEM licence at retail price? Anyway, I'm not sure if anyone really buys Windows at retail prices. Enterprise (subscription) and OEM costs are much lower, and for personal use you can buy OEM keys off eBay or AliExpress for a few bucks.

dijit 4y ago
License costs are weird. The opaqueness of Windows licensing for "pro" devices makes us assume that there are heavy discounts, which massively depends on the manufacturer- framework could not be at a size that gives them preferential pricing (even if we assume that licensing is cheaper for other companies). I can say that it is more ordinary for end users to get discounts rather than OEMs, unless there is a lot of negotiation (including bundling crapware, as we well know) in the tech industry when it comes to bulk licensing.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
vbezhenar 4y ago
> for personal use you can buy OEM keys off eBay or AliExpress for a few bucks. Is it legal? If it's not, isn't it easier to just use crack? E.g. pirate KMS server.
- jacooper 4y ago
  Gray market
- GuB-42 4y ago
  It is not legal, but the advantage is that you don't have to deal with shady software like that pirate KMS server. Even though it is a breach of contract because it is not how these licences are supposed to be used, it is still recognized as genuine by Microsoft, so you get all the updates, etc... You may get your license revoked it the seller get caught and as a result, you may need to get a new one. As an individual, you are extremely unlikely to get into more trouble (same thing as with cracked software), but I wouldn't use these licenses as a business.
  - messe 4y ago
    I was under the impression that reselling keys can be legal in the EU (at least in some circumstances)?
    - nix23 4y ago
      [dead]
  - richthegeek 4y ago
    If the breach of contract is by the seller, then how does that result in illegality on the part of the buyer?
    - GuB-42 4y ago
      I don't think it is illegal on the part of the buyer, who would be a victim in this situation. But just like buying counterfeit goods, it is not clear to me, I mean if you buy your key from AliExpress, isn't it like importing counterfeits from China? That's something one should ask a lawyer. Anyways, these keys can be revoked any moment (and it has happened to me, with an Office key). If I had a business, I would avoid them for that reason alone.
    - otikik 4y ago
      Well now that you have read this forum thread and responded to it that’s proof that you knew that was a possibility at least. You can’t claim “lack of knowledge” if you do it and Microsoft comes for you. But I am not a lawyer, perhaps on this case that doesn’t matter.
  - vetinari 4y ago
    It is legal, there's ECJ ruling that software can be resold. It cannot be a breach of contract, if that contract article preventing it would be unlawful. Microsoft of course knows it, they are silent about the issue, preferring fear and doubt, just like you demonstrated.
    - 4y ago
vetinari 4y ago
Interesting bit, that many people miss: The enteprise windows license is not "standalone", you cannot use it with any device. You may use it only with device, that came with valid OEM or retail license.

by reisse 4y ago

dijit 4y ago

License costs are weird. The opaqueness of Windows licensing for "pro" devices makes us assume that there are heavy discounts, which massively depends on the manufacturer- framework could not be at a size that gives them preferential pricing (even if we assume that licensing is cheaper for other companies). I can say that it is more ordinary for end users to get discounts rather than OEMs, unless there is a lot of negotiation (including bundling crapware, as we well know) in the tech industry when it comes to bulk licensing.

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]

vbezhenar 4y ago

> for personal use you can buy OEM keys off eBay or AliExpress for a few bucks. Is it legal? If it's not, isn't it easier to just use crack? E.g. pirate KMS server.

jacooper 4y ago
Gray market
GuB-42 4y ago
It is not legal, but the advantage is that you don't have to deal with shady software like that pirate KMS server. Even though it is a breach of contract because it is not how these licences are supposed to be used, it is still recognized as genuine by Microsoft, so you get all the updates, etc... You may get your license revoked it the seller get caught and as a result, you may need to get a new one. As an individual, you are extremely unlikely to get into more trouble (same thing as with cracked software), but I wouldn't use these licenses as a business.
- messe 4y ago
  I was under the impression that reselling keys can be legal in the EU (at least in some circumstances)?
  - nix23 4y ago
    [dead]
- richthegeek 4y ago
  If the breach of contract is by the seller, then how does that result in illegality on the part of the buyer?
  - GuB-42 4y ago
    I don't think it is illegal on the part of the buyer, who would be a victim in this situation. But just like buying counterfeit goods, it is not clear to me, I mean if you buy your key from AliExpress, isn't it like importing counterfeits from China? That's something one should ask a lawyer. Anyways, these keys can be revoked any moment (and it has happened to me, with an Office key). If I had a business, I would avoid them for that reason alone.
  - otikik 4y ago
    Well now that you have read this forum thread and responded to it that’s proof that you knew that was a possibility at least. You can’t claim “lack of knowledge” if you do it and Microsoft comes for you. But I am not a lawyer, perhaps on this case that doesn’t matter.
- vetinari 4y ago
  It is legal, there's ECJ ruling that software can be resold. It cannot be a breach of contract, if that contract article preventing it would be unlawful. Microsoft of course knows it, they are silent about the issue, preferring fear and doubt, just like you demonstrated.
  - 4y ago

vetinari 4y ago

Interesting bit, that many people miss: The enteprise windows license is not "standalone", you cannot use it with any device. You may use it only with device, that came with valid OEM or retail license.