Acquiring Used Software: Problematic?

[donaldfleming]

With regard to acquiring used software that is legitimate and from a reliable source. Might there be any problems in downloading and using this?

Obviously, the software would have been removed from the original owner’s computer and no copies made.

[pam123]

Download used software ?

It's not a matter of whether or not you think everything is above board it's a matter of whether or not the "rights" holder does (And it's a pretty good bet that they won't.).


If you find a reputable dealer of used software on optical disks that would be another matter but I would pass on any deal involving "used" downloads.

[donaldfleming]

Thanks for taking the time to respond, Pam.

What I meant was acquiring software on CD Rom; e.g. a friend giving another friend Microsoft Office 2003, because he had just bought the 2010 version; or, alternatively, someone buying the same product from a seller on Amazon MarketPlace.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Technically, M$ wants it to be illegal. Up to Office 2000 you probably could grab a copy left aside by someone who upgraded. But starting with Office XP, all M$ software has activation and so it's "married" to the machine it's originally installed to. And unlike Adobe software, Microsoft's cannot be deactivated and then moved to another system. This is why it's illegal to sell open boxes of Office.

Donald, the best you can do is to stretch your budget by 50 dollars and buy the Home and Student version of Office 2010. Yes, if someone has left over UNOPENED boxes of Office 2007 laying around it's perfectly legal to buy them and install them; they still activate without a hitch. Problem is that software is not like cars, you know, that go lower in price when the newer models hit the market and still remains in the market: software gets taken off the market and replaced by the new versions with old copies being destroyed; you're at the mercy of the seller, and most stores that still have left over boxes will sell them to you at full price. Though sometimes you can get lucky and buy at half the original price or so.

There are no ifs, ands or buts; if you want M$ software you have to pay for it.

[pam123]

If you need "Office" but the budget is tight then "Open Office" set to save in Windows compatible mode is a better (free) deal.

[donaldfleming]

Thanks for your input, Nuclear Krusader.

Re your comment "This is why it's illegal to sell open boxes of Office." I've never heard of this before. I was under the impression that Microsoft Office software could be sold, used, subject to it being uninstalled from the seller's computer and no copies having been made.

Furthermore, used software is openly sold on Amazon MarketPlace. If this is illegal, why would Amazon allow this?

Thanks again for taking the time to respond to my post.

[Nuclear Krusader]

As I said, Microsoft wants to sell a copy of Office for every computer. It's amazing the things they consider piracy. That being said, I did some research and found this: Office EULA FAQ

It seems that you're correct: as long as the software has been completely removed from one machine, then it's completely legal to install it in another. You just can't have it running on both machines (or more). So there we go. It looks like they haven't gotten that restrictive yet. But note that this applies only to retail versions; OEM versions cannot be transferred.

I'm all for buying used software. Heck, I just purchased a used Adobe Master Collection for 500 bux. A steal. One of our customers upgraded to CS5 and since she was purchasing the full version she didn't need her previous full version for the upgrade.

[glc]

You sure have started a lot of threads just to try to find Office at a good price. We would really prefer you continue to provide feedback in a single thread rather than start all over again. Would you please review ALL of your threads on this issue and consider all of the inputs you have received? Do you REALLY need Microsoft Office, specifically? If so, WHY?

[David M]

The answer is, it depends on the software. Some software you can load on your computer with no problem if it has been owned before. With other software, it can only be licensed to one person and never be allowed to transfer ownership. With other software, it can be registered to one person and then be transferred to another where the second person can install it with no problems....whether that is allowed or not.

There is no hard and fast rule that applies to all software....it depends.

As far as MS Office goes. I have a few old copies. All you have to do is enter the key code and it installs. I have moved the same license to different computers with no problem. I have no idea if this is legal and don't particularly care because I paid for the license. I did not steal it therefore to me doing this is ethical whether or not it is legal. It's Microsoft's problem if they don't like it....they got paid.

[glc]

HOWEVER - starting with Office XP, activation is required. You may or may not have issues with activation. If you buy used MS Office XP or newer and it won't activate, MS will not be very sympathetic if you call them.

If you absolutely have to have Office, the last version that will simply install with a valid keycode and not require activation is Office 2000. HOWEVER - if it doesn't pass WGA validation you can't get updates for it. Even if you can, the updates are very difficult to find as MS has discontinued all support for it.

[Nuclear Krusader]

Not that you need the updates, really. But if for some reason you happen to, then you're SOL.