MS Office Home and Student On a Business Machine

[Mark]

Not for Commercial or Business use!

I found this interesting, so I opened a question on this issue.

Once again, I just got off the phone with Drew at Microsoft. 2 separate
times today

Microsoft admitted, it was an ambiguous statement, and left a gray area, but
not to confuse, Commercial Use. Not for business!

He went on to explain the implied purpose; I may not produce fliers,
posters, ads for sale, or allow anyone to "pay" to use the Product, That
being MS Office Home and Student.. That would be commercial use or use for
business!

Microsoft went on to say, that they are not adddressing this issue, because
it is not a problem.

He quoted "As long as you are not making money", by making commercial
sellable products, the use of Home and Student was absolutely fine in an
Office enviroment.

Are they any comments to the symantics of the use of the words Commercial
and Business in the EULA. Because to me, it leaves a very gray area...

 

[Gordon]

Not for Commercial or Business use!

I found this interesting, so I opened a question on this issue.

Once again, I just got off the phone with Drew at Microsoft. 2 separate
times today

Microsoft admitted, it was an ambiguous statement, and left a gray area,
but
not to confuse, Commercial Use. Not for business!

He went on to explain the implied purpose; I may not produce fliers,
posters, ads for sale, or allow anyone to "pay" to use the Product, That
being MS Office Home and Student.. That would be commercial use or use for
business!

Microsoft went on to say, that they are not adddressing this issue,
because
it is not a problem.

He quoted "As long as you are not making money", by making commercial
sellable products, the use of Home and Student was absolutely fine in an
Office enviroment.

Are they any comments to the symantics of the use of the words Commercial
and Business in the EULA. Because to me, it leaves a very gray area...

The test in English Law would be what the man on the Clapham omnibus
considered "business".
I would suggest that if you keep to the normally-accepted definition, i.e.
anything done in a place of business or on behalf of a business (whether at
home or not) is against the spirit of the EULA.

 

[Tom [Pepper] Willett]

: The test in English Law would be what the man on the Clapham omnibus
: considered "business".
: I would suggest that if you keep to the normally-accepted definition, i.e.
: anything done in a place of business or on behalf of a business (whether
at
: home or not) is against the spirit of the EULA.

....and, how is MS going to know, anyway?

 

[Mark]

That's true, up to the point of the two (2) phone calls to Microsoft.

They said what I wrote. The implied issue has been misinterpreted, that
being commercial or business.

They concurred it looked gray. I thought it would make and interesting
topic, to have MS take an actual stand.

Via Voice, they said load it and use it, but do not produce prodjects for
sale as in my original note. And do not allow someone to pay to use your
product. (That Product) As bringing in a freelancer for example.

I don't make this stuff up. And if you actually look at my side of the
symantics of the terms, you can begin to see what they told me.

I'm not concerned. This was new to me.

 

[Mark]

Yes, MS agreed, no one is policeing the issue, but the topic really was about
understanding the "implied" meaning of what is printed on the box.

Clearly it says "not for commercial and business" and The Title is Clear.
However, 2 confirming calls to MS about the meaning, both returned the same
answers..

1. The area is Gray
2. Load the software at your business, we are not looking
3. Do not make publications for sale, ad do not allow anyone to pay to use
the That product as in a freelancer.
4. Use the software in house, and mailing doc's .xls etc was fine as long as
they weren't for sale.

Go Figure.

This is not an argument for or against. It is just a statement as to what
transpired yesterday, between me and "Drew" at MS.