Office Licensing agreement

[tbrox]

I have a customer who has a MS Word or Small Office licensing question. I wasn't sure so I told him I would post and ask someone who would know for sure.

My customer want to buy 2 new computers one for the office and one for home. My customer would like to be able to work on Word documents at home as well as in the office.

Here is the question. Can he purchase one computer with MS Office and the home computer without. Then use the install disk from the office computer that came with MS Office to install it on the home computer?

I have seen some software agreements that have allowed this. I just don't know if MS Office allows this since the activation started.

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

No. If the Office program comes preinstalled on the work computer, it
cannot be installed at home since it is OEM and tied to the original
installation computer.

The normal retail license for Office (except for Students and Teachers
Edition) allows for 2 installations, one desktop and the other on a portable
computer, used by the same person but not simultaneously.

In the customer's situation, he or she will need to acquire 2 copies of the
Office System program if both computers are desktops or portables.


--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact. Due to
the (insert latest virus name here) virus, all mail sent to my personal
account will be deleted without reading.

After searching google.groups.com and finding no answer, tbrox asked:

| I have a customer who has a MS Word or Small Office licensing
| question. I wasn't sure so I told him I would post and ask someone
| who would know for sure.
|
| My customer want to buy 2 new computers one for the office and one
| for home. My customer would like to be able to work on Word documents
| at home as well as in the office.
|
| Here is the question. Can he purchase one computer with MS Office and
| the home computer without. Then use the install disk from the office
| computer that came with MS Office to install it on the home computer?
|
| I have seen some software agreements that have allowed this. I just
| don't know if MS Office allows this since the activation started.

 

[Miss Perspicacia Tick]

I have a customer who has a MS Word or Small Office licensing
question. I wasn't sure so I told him I would post and ask someone
who would know for sure.

My customer want to buy 2 new computers one for the office and one
for home. My customer would like to be able to work on Word documents
at home as well as in the office.

Here is the question. Can he purchase one computer with MS Office and
the home computer without. Then use the install disk from the office
computer that came with MS Office to install it on the home computer?

I have seen some software agreements that have allowed this. I just
don't know if MS Office allows this since the activation started.

Sorry, but you are mistaken. OEM licences have always been tied to the
system they are sold with and cannot be installed on any other system. It
has nothing whatsoever to do with activation. Furthermore, even if the
licence was retail, he wouldn't be able to install it on both systems
without the purchase of a second licence.

The retail Office EULA states that: -

1. GRANT OF LICENSE. Microsoft grants you the following rights provided
that you comply with all terms and conditions of this EULA:
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.

IOW, unless the second system is a laptop, he must purchase two licences
(which he would have to anyway).

 

[Chris Schatte]

tbrox,
If your customer buys the new computer with Office preinstalled (oem) no, it can only (by license agreement) be used on the one machine.
Best bet, and as per the eula for Office 2003, is have your customer purchase one desktop and a notebook (portable device). With this configuration he can install a retail version on both.
View the eula's for Office versions here:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/eula/en.mspx
If you are a Microsoft oem system builder you can do what you describe, just license the installations accordingly.

Chris Schatte

 

[tbrox]

Thanks everyone for the clarification. I will pass this information on.