Breaking OEM Licence agreements VS Pirating.

[d3sl91]

Before I start, this is not condoning any "illegal" activity, but rather is a discussion on the morals/convictions of most of us. 

 

 

Fact: Pirating Windows (any version) Is Illegal. 

 

Little-Known Fact: Using an OEM copy of Windows 7, 8.1 for personal use BREAKS the licence agreement (AKA, Microsoft says you are not allowed to do this). 

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/windows-licensing-for-personal-use.aspx#fbid=cX5QwTqvweG

 

Fact: Using an OEM key from one system, and using it on another BREAKS Licence agreement. (Aka, you are stealing). 

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/licensing_faq.aspx#fbid=cX5QwTqvweG?hashlink=faq3

 

 

I have yet to find exact details on windows 10. But likely, the terms will be similar. Your current OEM key, which is licenced to your current motherboard, will likely result in an upgrade path to your windows 10 OEM key, which will essentially be linked to the original key's motherboard. Meaning, you must use windows 10 on the computer your copy of windows 7 OEM or 8.1OEM was installed on, or you are breaking licence agreement. 

 

Thoughts? Do you care? Is this news to you?

[Syntaxvgm]

Buying used games gives devs no money. Just like pirating.

 

But no one cares to look at fine details.  

 

 

They just like feeling like they are morally superior to others. 

 

 

As long as they have a key, even an MSDN one sold though G2A (illegally), they feel they did the right thing. 

[Lolzious]

But... I'm using a pirated Windows 7 ISO and Dell OEM product key... Lol

[Minzo]

 

Fact: Using an OEM key from one system, and using it on another BREAKS Licence agreement. (Aka, you are stealing). 

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/licensing/sblicensing/Pages/licensing_faq.aspx#fbid=cX5QwTqvweG?hashlink=faq3

 

 

Weird, I called Microsoft and told them I bought a new computer and wanted to use my old OEM license and they were very helpful.

[d3sl91]

Weird, I called Microsoft and told them I bought a new computer and wanted to use my old OEM license and they were very helpful.

This is also a good point. 

 

I have, many times, called and essentially admitted that I was breaking their licensing agreement (unknowingly), and they had no problems helping me. Moving one copy of windows 7 between multiple systems after rebuilds and upgrades etc, and calling to say 'Yes, I built myself a new computer and I need to install on another". 

 

However, to be honest, many times the only question you actually get, is, "how many computers do you have this installed on". 

[QueenDemetria]

Here are my thoughts:

• I hate Microsoft
• Microsofts rules are bogus
• I do what I want M8
• Linux is far superior when compared to Microsoft Windows, especially that abomination called Windows 8.

But I'm pretty sure Microsoft doesn't enforce this rule, so I'm not worried about it.

[d3sl91]

As long as they have a key, even an MSDN one sold though G2A (illegally), they feel they did the right thing. 

 

What you don't know can't hurt you......right?

[DigitalHermit]

If the key transfer procedure is done properly, you're not breaking anything...

 

also tying a license to the machine is broken per-se in the fact that the person owns the hardware and the rights to use the software on one machine...

 

hence it would be more logical to tie the license to the person and one machine in the person's possession...

to break this is to use one license for two machines without deactivating the other... a process which can be shortened by tying the license to the person...

 

enterprise editions are exemptions to this rule...

[BoredErica]

Is the part where we play the starving children in Africa trump card?