Licence implications for virtualized office

[Youcan CallmeAL]

While reviewing this new product "thinstall" see
http://thinstall.com/solutions/usb_apps.php ,

It allows you to create a virtual application and make it portable (single
exe) .. i.e. the app does NOT install on the running PC

the app does NOT install on the running PC

See the demos here .. http://thinstall.com/sales/demo.php#

This means that I can place an application like MS word on a USB disk and
run it from there ..

Questions

1. If I have 2 PCs and I run Office from a USB drive, and simply move the
USB drive between the two PCs how many licences of Office are required ?

2. If I place the same mobile app exe on a network drive separate to the 2
PCs and access it over the network between the two PC's how many licences of
Office are required ? ( and they never run the app at the same time )

3. In the same scenario as 2 if out of 600 PCs only 300 PCs are running the
mobile office app exe at any one time how many licences of Office are
required ?

thanks

 

[Og]

Read the EULA.
Steve

 

[Youcan CallmeAL]

Read the EULA.
Steve

Thanks for that Steve...

I'll do better I'll quote it

"1.1 Installation and use. You may:
(a) install and use a copy of the Software on one personal computer or
other device; and
(b) install an additional copy of the Software on a second, portable device
for the exclusive use of the primary user of the first copy of the Software.
1.2 Alternative Rights for Storage/Network Use. As an alternative to
Section 1.1(a), you may install a copy of the Software on a network storage
device, such as a server computer, and allow one access device, such as a
personal computer, to access and use that licensed copy of the Software over
a private network. You must obtain a license to the Software for each
additional device that accesses and uses the Software installed on the
network storage device, except as permitted by Section 1.4 of this EULA. "


Now you notice that both 1.1 and 1.2 refer to install, which is not
applicable.

What way should this be interpreted ?

 

[Bob I]

:





Thanks for that Steve...

I'll do better I'll quote it

"1.1 Installation and use. You may:
(a) install and use a copy of the Software on one personal computer or
other device; and
(b) install an additional copy of the Software on a second, portable device
for the exclusive use of the primary user of the first copy of the Software.
1.2 Alternative Rights for Storage/Network Use. As an alternative to
Section 1.1(a), you may install a copy of the Software on a network storage
device, such as a server computer, and allow one access device, such as a
personal computer, to access and use that licensed copy of the Software over
a private network. You must obtain a license to the Software for each
additional device that accesses and uses the Software installed on the
network storage device, except as permitted by Section 1.4 of this EULA. "


Now you notice that both 1.1 and 1.2 refer to install, which is not
applicable.

What way should this be interpreted ?

That would imply the you need one license per PC that you intend to
access/use the installation with. If you really want to know what you
may need to do or can do, contact Microsoft. This is a user group and
has no legal basis, only opinions by volunteer users like yourself.

 

[Bob Buckland ?:-\)]

Hi 'Al',

You may want to review the installation demo for the initial installation process. Thinstall clones an installed copy of the apps
from a computer into a virutal PC/thinclient package. You do install the product to start with and a virtual device is still a
'device' <g>.

There are also in the Thinstall FAQs information on methods to maintain license compliance (basically a 'per seat' basis for Office)
and the same type of guidelines for virutal PCs/Terminal Server/Citrix types of installation and use would still apply.

The portability prospects are interesting.

==============
Thanks for that Steve...

I'll do better I'll quote it

"1.1 Installation and use. You may:
(a) install and use a copy of the Software on one personal computer or
other device; and
(b) install an additional copy of the Software on a second, portable device
for the exclusive use of the primary user of the first copy of the Software.
1.2 Alternative Rights for Storage/Network Use. As an alternative to
Section 1.1(a), you may install a copy of the Software on a network storage
device, such as a server computer, and allow one access device, such as a
personal computer, to access and use that licensed copy of the Software over
a private network. You must obtain a license to the Software for each
additional device that accesses and uses the Software installed on the
network storage device, except as permitted by Section 1.4 of this EULA. "


Now you notice that both 1.1 and 1.2 refer to install, which is not
applicable.

What way should this be interpreted ? >>
--

Bob Buckland ?
MS Office System Products MVP

*Courtesy is not expensive and can pay big dividends*