Good article on the warnings signs of buying software like Windows or Office online. Good answers to the occasional Q's we get in this section, especially from newer members - https://www.howtogeek.com/345412/wat...are-resellers/
Small? Buying Win 10 Pro for $5 is hardly a waste of money, even if it is just OEM.Between these limitations and the extra hassle of buying from a third party, it’s typically not worth the small amount of money you’ll save.
I have bought several and never stopped working. It is legal in EU to resell licences.
I do not know where people keep getting the impression that it is legal to resell oem licences. This is just an urban myth. The EU did try to take a position but individual member states never ratified it. Germany passed some legislation giving limited rights to oem system builder licence keys but that does not apply to oem preinstalled licences which are bios embedded or other MS products. It certainly not legal to sell licences obtained by illicit means eg from grey Asian import market as any where else in the world.
Make no bones about it, if you buy a cheap key, you are condoning piracy.
I was not talking about reselling OEM licences, just pointing out the price. That reminds me one story. One computer shop was selling cheap Windows licences and people were concerned, that they were illegal, so the shop increased the price and everyone was happy. MS did not care, it just said, that the shop sets the price.
That is like saying, that if you buy something during a black friday, you are a thief, because you did not pay the full price. Obviously Microsoft and other companies do not mind, just a few people willing to waste money, well it is theirs choice. I bought a bundle of steam games worth $200 for $1, steam does not mind. If you buy, you buy it and that is end of it. Just because it is cheap does not mean, that it was obtained illegally. I bought Windows 8 Pro for $25 and $15 directly from Microsoft store once (promo price). I also know, how to activate Windows or other software for free, but I still choose to buy it. When talking about no bones, Microsoft is selling cheap licences in Asia almost for free, how is it fair to other customers?
I've bought a few licences like this. Always ask before buying whether the licence code works with a download from an official MS server. I also only buy from Amazon or eBay who offer money back guarantees if the product doesn't work.
MS is also giving away/donating quite large number of licensees. At the introduction of W10 in Belgrade, MS regional office gave away 1000 not only licenses but USBs in one shopping mall. MS also licensed for free w7 and later on all the computers in all Serbian elementary and high schools while at same time donating whole computers to schools in under privileged areas of country, specially in Kosovo. Some are selling those free licenses but I would consider that as an abuse of trust.
I don't know how much Bill Gates had to do with it but his humanitarian work is pretty well known.
Hi there
Not always true --say you have some software you got legally and never used -- you could apply the same idea that buying second hand or used goods was "helping criminal activity" -- although it could be --such as well known cases of Russian Mafia stealing cars to order and selling them on.
As far as the EU is concerned - even some if the individual members have never ratified it the EU court takes precedence --not wanting to get into argument with U.K nationals here but wasn't that one of the arguments proposed by the Brexit campaigners.
If the software is really cheap though e,g 5 USD why don't people just give it away. !!
Are you allowed to sell on DVD's / Books other copyrighted material -- this whole area is a quagmire - I doubt if you'd get into trouble with buying licences online -- if they are illegal e.g some versions of Ms office then the activation servers will block them.
Just use common sense in this.
Cheers
jimbo
EULA is practically a contract and is subject to laws in particular country and it or it's parts can be against those laws. Same goes to any or part of it are legal or not.
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