Software Assurance License Questions

[Daddy]

Since my employer has a Software Assurance agreement with Microsoft, I am
entitled to purchase Microsoft Office for home use at a very advantageous
price. I can only purchase the same version of Office covered by my
employer's Software Assurance agreement, which is Office Enterprise. This
version of Office contains way more software than I need, but I know that I
can install only the components that I wish to use.

The advantageous price comes with two 'gotchas' that are actually quite
reasonable: I'm only allowed to use this software for so long as my employer
maintains its Software Assurance agreement and for so long as I continue to
be employed here.

What will happen if my employer drops its Software Assurance agreement or I
leave my employer? Not that either is likely to happen anytime soon, but
what if? How would Microsoft even know if I leave my employer? It's not that
I'm trying to pull a fast one to get Office for cheap, but who can predict
what may happen in the future? I don't want to get stuck paying for Office
Enterprise years down the road.

Another question: If I buy a new computer, can I transfer this copy of
Office to the new computer?

Thanks for your help.

Daddy

 

[Bob I]

First question your rights to use it ends. Second question, you will
need to address the transfer issue at the time it comes up. Normally the
answer is yes it can be transfered.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Since my employer has a Software Assurance agreement with Microsoft, I am
entitled to purchase Microsoft Office for home use at a very advantageous
price. I can only purchase the same version of Office covered by my
employer's Software Assurance agreement, which is Office Enterprise. This
version of Office contains way more software than I need, but I know that
I can install only the components that I wish to use.

The advantageous price comes with two 'gotchas' that are actually quite
reasonable: I'm only allowed to use this software for so long as my
employer maintains its Software Assurance agreement and for so long as I
continue to be employed here.

What will happen if my employer drops its Software Assurance agreement or
I leave my employer? Not that either is likely to happen anytime soon, but
what if? How would Microsoft even know if I leave my employer? It's not
that I'm trying to pull a fast one to get Office for cheap, but who can
predict what may happen in the future? I don't want to get stuck paying
for Office Enterprise years down the road.

The license ends with either of those circumstances. Yes, there's a bit
of a gamble with your non-refundable payment.

Another question: If I buy a new computer, can I transfer this copy of
Office to the new computer?

With SQA or MSDEV licenses you can generally transfer as much as you need
to. It's actually rather expected that you will, if you are doing testing;
this doesn't necessarily mean concurrent installs on multiple machines,
though.

HTH
-pk

 

[Daddy]

Thanks to you both.

I guess the way to look at it is: If you were planning on buying new software in the near future anyway, here's a chance to get it for little money or at least to postpone paying full price for a retail license.

Daddy

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

The Home Use Program licenses you for one install only and if you need to
install it on another computer, you will need to apply to your employer for
a second license.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, Daddy asked:

| Since my employer has a Software Assurance agreement with Microsoft,
| I am entitled to purchase Microsoft Office for home use at a very
| advantageous price. I can only purchase the same version of Office
| covered by my employer's Software Assurance agreement, which is
| Office Enterprise. This version of Office contains way more software
| than I need, but I know that I can install only the components that I
| wish to use.
|
| The advantageous price comes with two 'gotchas' that are actually
| quite reasonable: I'm only allowed to use this software for so long
| as my employer maintains its Software Assurance agreement and for so
| long as I continue to be employed here.
|
| What will happen if my employer drops its Software Assurance
| agreement or I leave my employer? Not that either is likely to happen
| anytime soon, but what if? How would Microsoft even know if I leave
| my employer? It's not that I'm trying to pull a fast one to get
| Office for cheap, but who can predict what may happen in the future?
| I don't want to get stuck paying for Office Enterprise years down the
| road.
|
| Another question: If I buy a new computer, can I transfer this copy of
| Office to the new computer?
|
| Thanks for your help.
|
| Daddy

 

[Daddy]

Thanks for clarifying that, Milly.

Seems like the Home Use Program is pretty restricted. Then again, you're
only paying a nominal amount for the software.

Here's the part of it that concerns me: Let's say I leave my employer next
year - not that I plan to. To be in compliance, I have to run out and buy a
retail copy of Office to replace the license I am now no longer entitled to
use. Fair enough. But how does Microsoft know about all this - how do they
know I uninstalled Office Enterprise and replaced it with a retail copy of,
say, Office Standard? And why should they even care - they have my credit
card information and can always charge me for Office Enterprise if they
want.

Eventually it will all get sorted out - hopefully - but meanwhile there's
this big charge on my credit card.

I'm not complaining - "you pays your money and you makes your choice" - but
sometimes a bargain is not worth what you may have to go through.

Daddy

 

[Bob I]

What you pay for the Home Use Program CD is only "Shipping and
handling", about $20 maybe $25 now as it's been awhile. MS wouldn't
charge your card or keep your number, too big a liability. And it's up
to you and your integrity as to the compliance.

Thanks for clarifying that, Milly.

Seems like the Home Use Program is pretty restricted. Then again, you're
only paying a nominal amount for the software.

Here's the part of it that concerns me: Let's say I leave my employer next
year - not that I plan to. To be in compliance, I have to run out and buy a
retail copy of Office to replace the license I am now no longer entitled to
use. Fair enough. But how does Microsoft know about all this - how do they
know I uninstalled Office Enterprise and replaced it with a retail copy of,
say, Office Standard? And why should they even care - they have my credit
card information and can always charge me for Office Enterprise if they
want.

Eventually it will all get sorted out - hopefully - but meanwhile there's
this big charge on my credit card.

I'm not complaining - "you pays your money and you makes your choice" - but
sometimes a bargain is not worth what you may have to go through.

Daddy

The Home Use Program licenses you for one install only and if you need to
install it on another computer, you will need to apply to your employer
for
a second license.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, Daddy asked:

| Since my employer has a Software Assurance agreement with Microsoft,
| I am entitled to purchase Microsoft Office for home use at a very
| advantageous price. I can only purchase the same version of Office
| covered by my employer's Software Assurance agreement, which is
| Office Enterprise. This version of Office contains way more software
| than I need, but I know that I can install only the components that I
| wish to use.
|
| The advantageous price comes with two 'gotchas' that are actually
| quite reasonable: I'm only allowed to use this software for so long
| as my employer maintains its Software Assurance agreement and for so
| long as I continue to be employed here.
|
| What will happen if my employer drops its Software Assurance
| agreement or I leave my employer? Not that either is likely to happen
| anytime soon, but what if? How would Microsoft even know if I leave
| my employer? It's not that I'm trying to pull a fast one to get
| Office for cheap, but who can predict what may happen in the future?
| I don't want to get stuck paying for Office Enterprise years down the
| road.
|
| Another question: If I buy a new computer, can I transfer this copy of
| Office to the new computer?
|
| Thanks for your help.
|
| Daddy

 

[Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]]

No one can enforce the use of your employer's license if you should leave that employer. It is entirely up to your moral standards and conscience. Please note that I am not making a judgement on either.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question:
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, Daddy asked:

| Thanks for clarifying that, Milly.
|
| Seems like the Home Use Program is pretty restricted. Then again,
| you're only paying a nominal amount for the software.
|
| Here's the part of it that concerns me: Let's say I leave my employer
| next year - not that I plan to. To be in compliance, I have to run
| out and buy a retail copy of Office to replace the license I am now
| no longer entitled to use. Fair enough. But how does Microsoft know
| about all this - how do they know I uninstalled Office Enterprise and
| replaced it with a retail copy of, say, Office Standard? And why
| should they even care - they have my credit card information and can
| always charge me for Office Enterprise if they want.
|
| Eventually it will all get sorted out - hopefully - but meanwhile
| there's this big charge on my credit card.
|
| I'm not complaining - "you pays your money and you makes your choice"
| - but sometimes a bargain is not worth what you may have to go
| through.
|
| Daddy
|
| || The Home Use Program licenses you for one install only and if you
|| need to install it on another computer, you will need to apply to
|| your employer for
|| a second license.
||
|| --
|| Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
||
|| Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
|| How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
||
||
|| After furious head scratching, Daddy asked:
||
||| Since my employer has a Software Assurance agreement with Microsoft,
||| I am entitled to purchase Microsoft Office for home use at a very
||| advantageous price. I can only purchase the same version of Office
||| covered by my employer's Software Assurance agreement, which is
||| Office Enterprise. This version of Office contains way more software
||| than I need, but I know that I can install only the components that
||| I wish to use.
|||
||| The advantageous price comes with two 'gotchas' that are actually
||| quite reasonable: I'm only allowed to use this software for so long
||| as my employer maintains its Software Assurance agreement and for so
||| long as I continue to be employed here.
|||
||| What will happen if my employer drops its Software Assurance
||| agreement or I leave my employer? Not that either is likely to
||| happen anytime soon, but what if? How would Microsoft even know if
||| I leave my employer? It's not that I'm trying to pull a fast one to
||| get Office for cheap, but who can predict what may happen in the
||| future? I don't want to get stuck paying for Office Enterprise
||| years down the road.
|||
||| Another question: If I buy a new computer, can I transfer this copy
||| of Office to the new computer?
|||
||| Thanks for your help.
|||
||| Daddy

 

[Daddy]

Thank you both once again.

My father tells me "If you're going to steal may as well do it big time" so
I would not risk my reputation for a thousand dollars.

I know you're not doubting my integrity.

Personally, I have no objection to Microsoft taking strong measures to
enforce its licensing agreements. I know others don't feel the same. For
example, I have no problem if Microsoft wants to select a random sample of
e-mail addresses from time to time to see if someone is still with their
employer.

In any case, I am certain that Microsoft would allow their customers a
reasonable amount of time to bring themselves into compliance, so I'm not
going to worry any more. Instead, I'm looking forward to using ribbon menus.

Daddy

No one can enforce the use of your employer's license if you should leave
that employer. It is entirely up to your moral standards and conscience.
Please note that I am not making a judgement on either.

--
Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]

Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
How to ask a question:
http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375


After furious head scratching, Daddy asked:

| Thanks for clarifying that, Milly.
|
| Seems like the Home Use Program is pretty restricted. Then again,
| you're only paying a nominal amount for the software.
|
| Here's the part of it that concerns me: Let's say I leave my employer
| next year - not that I plan to. To be in compliance, I have to run
| out and buy a retail copy of Office to replace the license I am now
| no longer entitled to use. Fair enough. But how does Microsoft know
| about all this - how do they know I uninstalled Office Enterprise and
| replaced it with a retail copy of, say, Office Standard? And why
| should they even care - they have my credit card information and can
| always charge me for Office Enterprise if they want.
|
| Eventually it will all get sorted out - hopefully - but meanwhile
| there's this big charge on my credit card.
|
| I'm not complaining - "you pays your money and you makes your choice"
| - but sometimes a bargain is not worth what you may have to go
| through.
|
| Daddy
|
| || The Home Use Program licenses you for one install only and if you
|| need to install it on another computer, you will need to apply to
|| your employer for
|| a second license.
||
|| --
|| Milly Staples [MVP - Outlook]
||
|| Post all replies to the group to keep the discussion intact.
|| How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/KB/555375
||
||
|| After furious head scratching, Daddy asked:
||
||| Since my employer has a Software Assurance agreement with Microsoft,
||| I am entitled to purchase Microsoft Office for home use at a very
||| advantageous price. I can only purchase the same version of Office
||| covered by my employer's Software Assurance agreement, which is
||| Office Enterprise. This version of Office contains way more software
||| than I need, but I know that I can install only the components that
||| I wish to use.
|||
||| The advantageous price comes with two 'gotchas' that are actually
||| quite reasonable: I'm only allowed to use this software for so long
||| as my employer maintains its Software Assurance agreement and for so
||| long as I continue to be employed here.
|||
||| What will happen if my employer drops its Software Assurance
||| agreement or I leave my employer? Not that either is likely to
||| happen anytime soon, but what if? How would Microsoft even know if
||| I leave my employer? It's not that I'm trying to pull a fast one to
||| get Office for cheap, but who can predict what may happen in the
||| future? I don't want to get stuck paying for Office Enterprise
||| years down the road.
|||
||| Another question: If I buy a new computer, can I transfer this copy
||| of Office to the new computer?
|||
||| Thanks for your help.
|||
||| Daddy