Microsoft releases new license terms for Windows 10: Biggest surprise?

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
    Microsoft releases new license terms for Windows 10: Biggest surprise?

    Microsoft releases new license terms for Windows 10: Biggest surprise?


    Posted: 15 Jul 2015

    You can put your tinfoil hats away now.

    Two weeks ahead of the global launch of Windows 10, Microsoft has finalized the terms of its license agreements for the new operating system. I've had several days to study the documents in detail, and I can report that there are no surprises, no gotchas, and no hidden subscription traps waiting to be sprung in two or three or four years.
    Sorry to disappoint you, conspiracy theorists.
    Microsoft has consistently said that its new "Windows as a service" model doesn't change the basic licensing terms for Windows. Based on these documents, that's still true.
    Source
    labeeman's Avatar Posted By: labeeman
    15 Jul 2015


  1. Posts : 7,128
    Windows 10 Pro Insider
       #1

    I'm disappointed!................. j/k I'm actually glad that MS is finally letting us know this information.
      My Computers


  2. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #2


    • No Commercial Use Rights for Office products. Some Windows 10 editions will include Microsoft Office programs. As with Windows RT, those products are limited to personal and noncommercial use. Businesses need to have an Office 365 Business subscription or assign a perpetual Office license to the device.
    That is a little confusing though. I thought Microsoft Office was more geared to business then the home user. I could see some issues with that.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 29,078
    Windows 10 21H1 Build 19043.1023
       #3

    groze said:
    That is a little confusing though. I thought Microsoft Office was more geared to business then the home user. I could see some issues with that.
    Groze, those are the three mobile apps that come with Windows 10, not the Office Desktop Suite.

    There have always been several versions of Office, which include Student, Standard, Professional, Professional Plus are just some of the different versions that have been available down through the years. Recently, Student and Standard have been combined to become Home and Student.

    Office 365 2016 for non-business use includes Home, Personal and Home and Student. There are three versions for business use which include Business Essentials, Business and Business Premium.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,191
    Windows 11 Pro x64
       #4

    Well at least that puts to rest the question of whether Windows 10 license will be transferable to another device if upgrading from a retail version o 7 or 8.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #5

    Yeah, I read the license carefully when upgrading, and it puts a number of things to bed.

    1) If you upgrade a retail copy of Windows 7/8.x it remains a retail license, and is transferable.

    2) You have full downgrade rights, and you are free to go back to the original version you bough.

    3) They've done away with all the "OEM" and what not terms, and now they just say "If your software was pre-installed on the device" or "If you acquired the software from a retailer" (and they make it clear that if you get it from Microsoft directly, such as with MSDN or TechNet, Microsoft is considered the retailer).

    4) As expected, you can't dual boot the same license with different versions (or run a virtual machine with the same license). If you are going to dual boot, you legally need 2 separate licenses.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,191
    Windows 11 Pro x64
       #6

    I am happy with these terms. No surprises!
      My Computers


  7. Posts : 97
    xp w7 w8.1 linux
       #7

    Mystere said:
    Yeah, I read the license carefully when upgrading, and it puts a number of things to bed.

    1) If you upgrade a retail copy of Windows 7/8.x it remains a retail license, and is transferable.

    2) You have full downgrade rights, and you are free to go back to the original version you bough.

    3) They've done away with all the "OEM" and what not terms, and now they just say "If your software was pre-installed on the device" or "If you acquired the software from a retailer" (and they make it clear that if you get it from Microsoft directly, such as with MSDN or TechNet, Microsoft is considered the retailer).

    4) As expected, you can't dual boot the same license with different versions (or run a virtual machine with the same license). If you are going to dual boot, you legally need 2 separate licenses.
    I follow the spirit of the terms but have a little difficulty with 4.
    Take the following scenario:-
    Assume windows 7 as starting point.
    Clone 7 drive - upgrade to 10.
    Install both 7 and 10 drives with dual boot with bios on the same machine.
    Statement 2 says I am free to return to 7 therefore I boot 7
    next time I boot 10 for file transfer etc.
    I can see how they can check for standard dual boot systems with 2 partitions /vm but the way I have described depends on the user following the spirit of the licence.
    For this reason should you wish to keep 7 use an insider version of 10
    Obviously you are not allowed to use the clone or its product key as a basis for upgrading a second system.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,557
    W10 32 bit, XUbuntu 18.xx 64 bit
       #8

    So am I going to have an issue with my system?

    This is all on one hard drive

    Partition Primary 1 Windows 7 oem changed to windows 7 retail key (so I wouldn't have to reinstall it)
    Partition Primary 2 Windows 7 oem upgraded to windows 10 preview which will become windows 10 release.
    Partition Logical 5 Xubuntu
    Partition Logical 6 Linux Swap
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13,848
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #9

    besb said:
    I follow the spirit of the terms but have a little difficulty with 4.
    Take the following scenario:-
    Assume windows 7 as starting point.
    Clone 7 drive - upgrade to 10.
    Install both 7 and 10 drives with dual boot with bios on the same machine.
    Statement 2 says I am free to return to 7 therefore I boot 7
    next time I boot 10 for file transfer etc.
    I can see how they can check for standard dual boot systems with 2 partitions /vm but the way I have described depends on the user following the spirit of the licence.
    For this reason should you wish to keep 7 use an insider version of 10
    Obviously you are not allowed to use the clone or its product key as a basis for upgrading a second system.
    I take #2 in that list ["2) You have full downgrade rights, and you are free to go back to the original version you bough."} as meaning going back to Win7 w/SP1 or Win8.1 wiping out Win10 in the process, not the meaning of the ability to dual-boot. Two Operating Systems on the same hardware requires 2 licenses.
      My Computers


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:13.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums