Donating Software?
nuxx asks: "I have a copy of Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition here, with 25 Client Access Licenses which I don't need. I don't want to throw it away, but because it's a Not For Resale copy, I can't list it on eBay. So, I'd like to give it to a charity. It's a completely new, unused, legal copy which was handed to me by a Microsoft rep a few weeks ago, so this should be legal to do. The problem is, I'm not really sure how to donate software to a charity. Does anyone have any experience with this? Do you know of any resources available regarding how to send such donations and which organizations find them useful?"
This being said, I can't remember the web sites addresses right now. Google is your friend.
The right to offend is far more important than the right not to be offended. (Rowan Atkinson)
I work at a non-profit, but not the do-goody tipe. Whenever someone asks where they can get donated software I usually hear a reference to http://www.techsoup.org/ - so I'd check there first.
http://www.cwwpp.org/
They might need it, since their "server" runs XPpro and they get a bunch of volunteers to work there.
As for the legal stuff, you dont need to transfer this license, since the installation can be performed "in your name", hence you are still the owner of this product, but you grant the organisation an exclusive right to use this software (you dont sell or give away, you just let them use it instead of you)
Delta-Mike November Bravo Tango
Source:http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/eu
I've worked with a few Not For Proffit organizations in the past, and we've always gone through TechSoup for our needs. Great organization.
-Rick
"Most people in the U.S. wouldn't know they live in a tyrannical state if it walked up and grabbed their junk." - MyFirs
So, list a CD case for sale on eBay, which comes with a *free gift* of a copy of Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition then
Which would cost the charity I'm involved with almost $2k a year, that's well over a month worth of rent and simply an expense that we don't need to pay by using linux.
/* FUCK - The F-word is here so that you can grep for it */
The parent is right Techsoup is a great place to start, and as the other poster said the prices are pretty low so many may just prefer to buy from them.
But not every non-profit can benefit from the offerings at techsoup (depends on the 'donator' and thier restrictions) For microsoft the restrictions listed are:
"Microsoft products are not available for distribution to educational institutions (including K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and trade schools), political organizations, religious organizations (except for those with a secular community designation), healthcare networks and healthcare research organizations, or private foundations. Please consult our complete list of ineligible organizations for more information."
Schools have thier own discounted licensing plan (might be higher $$ though), so if I wanted to help the unhelped I'd probably help my local church, foundation or healthcare research organization.
"Enjoy what you're doing! If it becomes drudgery, you're doing it wrong!" - Jim Butterfield
Are you really prohibited from reselling it? Might be like that in the US, but in Germany, I believe it was ruled that they can't stop you from reselling software, no matter what they print on the package. So, stores have lines of "not to be sold seperately" Windows copies and the like, which fetch almost the same price as the ones with a prettier box.
Often, those 'freebees' you get from your rep may NOT be redistributed in any form, even for free.. ( regardless of the fact you didnt use it )
However, somtimes they are.. It all just depends. You need to call your rep and see what you got in you hands there. A gift, or a door stop.
---- Booth was a patriot ----