Revision to Windows Vista retail licensing terms

Galen

Good news - Microsoft's Windows division has revised the retail license terms for Windows Vista in a significant way. Namely, the terms regarding license-to-device assignment of the retail product (including Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Ultimate) now read as follows:

15. REASSIGN TO ANOTHER DEVICE.
a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. You may uninstall the software and install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between devices.

http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx

http://windowsvistablog.com/blogs/windowsvista/archive/2006/11/02/news-revision-to-windows-vista-retail-licensing-terms.aspx

Capt'n Midnight

Can you post a link please, as the original license allowed you to move to another device too.

The problem was that you could only do it ONCE.

Prisoner6409

System builders, hardware enthusiasts and upgrade hobbists were up in arms regarding the original terms and rightly so. I am sure the shops that sell a lot of computer upgrade hardware were not to happy about it either. Luckily MS has seen sense. I was on my way to Debian before the rethink.


Here is a link regarding the news.

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-6131900.html

Capt'n Midnight

http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx - todays terms and conditions. Home basic english

15. REASSIGN TO ANOTHER DEVICE.
a. Software Other than Windows Anytime Upgrade. You may uninstall the software and
install it on another device for your use. You may not do so to share this license between
devices.
b. Windows Anytime Upgrade Software. The first user of the software may reassign the
license to another device one time, but only if the license terms of the software you upgraded
from allows reassignment.
16. TRANSFER TO A THIRD PARTY.
a. Software Other Than Windows Anytime Upgrade. The first user of the software may
make a one time transfer of the software, and this agreement, directly to a third party. The first
user must uninstall the software before transferring it separately from the device. The first user
may not retain any copies.
b. Windows Anytime Upgrade Software. You may transfer the software directly to a third
party only with the licensed device. You may not keep any copies of the software or any earlier
version.
c. Other Requirements. Before any permitted transfer, the other party must agree that this
agreement applies to the transfer and use of the software. The transfer must include the proof
of license.

Stephen

Nice to see that they came to their senses

radiospan

What does this mean exactly? What's Windows Anytime Upgrade?

Stephen

I believe its a system they have that allows you to upgrade your version of Vista (i.e. from home basic to ultimate or whatever) whenever you like. You give them money, they give you a code or something. The DVD has the whole lot on it regardless of which version you purchase.

5uspect

I wonder will a lot of people be shocked to find that their home basic version of Vista doesn't come with all the fancy Aero stuff. I can imagine a few calls to Joe Duffy...

aidan_walsh

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/software/0,1000000121,39284549,00.htm

Reversing a licensing change announced two weeks ago, Microsoft said on Thursday that it will not limit the number of times retail customers can transfer their Windows Vista licence to a different computer.
...

[T]he new restriction prompted an outcry among hardware enthusiasts and others. Microsoft is returning the licensing terms to basically what they were in Windows XP — users can transfer their licence to a new PC an unlimited number of times, provided they uninstall and stop using it on the prior machine.

The software maker said it paid attention to the response both directly to the company and on blogs and decided to reverse course. Microsoft had hoped to use the change to aid its ongoing efforts to thwart piracy.

"We're trying to be really clear about our intention to prevent piracy," said Microsoft product manager Mike Burk. "At the same time, after listening to the feedback that came in, [we] felt that we needed to make this change."

Catsmokinpot

phew i was not going to fork out over 300 squid for a piece of software i could not use on my pc if i upgraded.

im glad microsoft haven't completely gone to the dogs, still that scare had made me want to give linux a go and see how i get on, ive heard its hard enough to use but i dont mind, i think im up for the challenge