New Microsoft licencing approach

26/01/2010

Microsoft has been looking at arrangements where business customers could pay a flat fee to use Windows or Office 2007 (Standard or Professional versions) for a year.

You might think that, as an individual user, you own the operating system that came on your PC, but you'd be wrong. You can’t sell the Windows software that comes preloaded on your computer. You can sell a used copy of Windows, if you bought a copy and then deleted it from your computer. So, for example, if you bought a copy of Windows 7 to upgrade from your old PC's pre-existing Vista, you can't sell that copy of Vista, but you can sell the copy of Windows 7. 

What does this really mean for business users? It's complicated. First, you still need to “buy” a copy of Windows or Office. If you then buy “rental rights,” what that gives you is the right to let others users use your system. To quote Microsoft, “Windows desktop operating system and Microsoft Office system licenses do not permit renting, leasing, or outsourcing the software to a third party. As a result, many organizations that rent, lease, or outsource desktop PCs to third parties (such as Internet cafés, hotel and airport kiosks, business service centers, and office equipment leasing companies) are not compliant with Microsoft license requirements.

“Rental Rights are a simple way for organizations to get a waiver of these licensing restrictions through a one-time license transaction valid for the term of the underlying software license or life of the PC. Solidify your role as trusted advisor by helping your customers become compliant using an additive license that fits their business model, without requiring special tools, processes, reporting, or paperwork.” In short, Microsoft isn't making it possible to rent its software. You still need to buy it, before you can rent it out to other users.

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