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Microsoft Software for Sale, Slightly Used

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the second-time-around dept.

Alsee writes "The Register reports that recent UK business Discount-Licensing.com has been having booming growth reselling pre-owned Microsoft software licenses 20-50% below retail, after spotting the opportunity in Microsoft's licensing terms and Britain's insolvency laws for insolvent and downsizing businesses. Sorry, no discount personal OS resales, corporate bulk resales only."

1 of 159 comments (clear)

  1. I'm going to mix things and hope you won't notice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    "Modern societies go out of their way to restrict one's freedom"

    Actually, modern has nothing to do with it. And just living with another person will restrict your freedom. Ask any married man. But some of those rules are societal such as you mention:

        "you cannot buy alcohol and give it to minors"

    or

        "[you cannot] drive a car around without a license"

    Let's be clear about these things. They are *laws* debated and agreed to by *represented officials* and can be changed at any time if society at large decides these rules need to be changed.

    Also, it's worth noting these laws don't restrict the sale or ownership of an item, they restrict the use of an item.

    Let's compare that with a EULA from MS not to resell that item.

    1) It's not against the law to buy or sell software
    2) Copyright law has no jurisdiction in this case, because it deals with reproduction, not sale
    3) First sale doctrine encourages me to resell what I own
    4) Microsoft would rather I didn't and they put it in a EULA.
    5) Nobody voted on this restriction. In fact, they didn't even get a say. I bought a PC a few years ago, it came with XP Pro, I assumed I could sell it, but no, it's licensed to the box and I can't resell it. Why? Well... just because. I don't think it would hold up in court, but it's not worth it to try.

    So please stop comparing a EULA to underage drinking and societal conventions because they are not at all related. EULAs are a trick that may or not be legal and they are enforced by big money, not society.