4 ms·

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. Micro

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.

GuB-42 4y ago
These cheap keys are usually from MSDN subscribers. MSDN subscribers can generate an unlimited number of keys at no cost, but they are for use by the subscriber only. Selling these keys is an abuse of the program. There is no resale here and you don't really get a license, you get a key.
- vetinari 4y ago
  The "respectable" resellers do keep paperwork where given license comes from. Just because it is legal to sell them, doesn't mean you cannot be audited what exactly are you selling (once you attract the attention of powerful people). So while some might come from MSDN subscribers, they often come from unused enterprise ones. The MSDN sellers are creating a big risk to themselves.
  - GuB-42 4y ago
    Now, real question, how do you distinguish between "respectable" resellers and MSDN sellers?
    - vetinari 4y ago
      Normal people? Hardly. I would look whether they are located in EU (due to the ECJ ruling) and whether they also sell something other than what is available over MSDN.
dagw 4y ago
The ECJ ruling only applies to Full Perpetual licenses of software. If these licenses came with other restrictions (could only be sold bundled with hardware, as part of a subscription, limited to use in academic settings only etc.) then they cannot simply be resold without those restrictions. A lot of people in fact point to this ruling as a reason why more and more companies switched from perpetual licenses to subscription licenses. Without a full licenses there is nothing to resell and this ECJ ruling doesn't apply

4 ms·

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. Micro

by vetinari 4y ago

GuB-42 4y ago
These cheap keys are usually from MSDN subscribers. MSDN subscribers can generate an unlimited number of keys at no cost, but they are for use by the subscriber only. Selling these keys is an abuse of the program. There is no resale here and you don't really get a license, you get a key.
- vetinari 4y ago
  The "respectable" resellers do keep paperwork where given license comes from. Just because it is legal to sell them, doesn't mean you cannot be audited what exactly are you selling (once you attract the attention of powerful people). So while some might come from MSDN subscribers, they often come from unused enterprise ones. The MSDN sellers are creating a big risk to themselves.
  - GuB-42 4y ago
    Now, real question, how do you distinguish between "respectable" resellers and MSDN sellers?
    - vetinari 4y ago
      Normal people? Hardly. I would look whether they are located in EU (due to the ECJ ruling) and whether they also sell something other than what is available over MSDN.
dagw 4y ago
The ECJ ruling only applies to Full Perpetual licenses of software. If these licenses came with other restrictions (could only be sold bundled with hardware, as part of a subscription, limited to use in academic settings only etc.) then they cannot simply be resold without those restrictions. A lot of people in fact point to this ruling as a reason why more and more companies switched from perpetual licenses to subscription licenses. Without a full licenses there is nothing to resell and this ECJ ruling doesn't apply