Illegal Microsoft Software?

[williebotes]

I've been browsing through bidorbuy and have noticed a number of Microsoft products being sold at less than 7% of it's MSRP. Is this legal? Link below:

http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/298481484/Microsoft_Office_Professional_2016.html

 

[Arthur]

If the licence conditions allow, you are of course free to transfer your licence to anyone else for whatever consideration you wish. You can even give it away if you want. So selling below retail price or even below cost is not per se illegal.

However, if they are transferring licences in breach of the copyright-holder's Ts&Cs then it's up to the copyright-holder to approach he authorities to assist with copyright enforcement.

In this case, ask Microsoft. Only they can say.

 

[sajunky]

Microsoft is dumping cheap licences on the market using informal channels. Nothing new, it was like that since Microsoft was born.

 

[Thor]

Microsoft is dumping cheap licences on the market using informal channels. Nothing new, it was like that since Microsoft was born.

^bless them

 

[Arthur]

Microsoft is dumping cheap licences on the market using informal channels. Nothing new, it was like that since Microsoft was born.

Utter crap. Shame on you, sajunky.

 

[sajunky]

^bless them

Even better, lie to them (anonymously) you are a crippled, you get a free licence for Windows 10 for no reason.

 

[Thor]

Even better, lie to them (anonymously) you are a crippled, you get a free licence for Windows 10 for no reason.

^bless the alternative channel.

 

[CataclysmZA]

I've been browsing through bidorbuy and have noticed a number of Microsoft products being sold at less than 7% of it's MSRP. Is this legal?

Selling below MSRP is perfectly legal, so long as you're not in a dominant position when doing so, because then that's an uncompetitive practice. These licenses come from MSDN/Brightspark/Dreamspark licenses that are then resold on the cheap. They're not legitimate licenses in this case.

Microsoft is dumping cheap licences on the market using informal channels. Nothing new, it was like that since Microsoft was born.

No they're not. Microsoft may largely turn a blind eye to these practices, but it's not using informal channels to sell Windows for cheap.

 

[mk97]

its not in violation of bidorbuy terms since the software is neither fake,counterfeit or pirated. these are actually legit keys but only for MSDN, still wont trust low rated sellers on bidorbuy . Microsoft does nothing about actual pirated versions , they actually might make a few rands here and there from windows store purchases from these licenses as opposed to flat out torrented ones

 

[Arthur]

Microsoft may largely turn a blind eye to these practices, but it's not using informal channels to sell Windows for cheap.

Msft certainly don't turn a blind eye. I know this first-hand. It was part of my job as Sales and Marketing Director at Microsoft to actively pursue illegal and unauthorised channels and shut them down. In South Africa I personally founded and launched the local chapter of the BSA in 1992, along with Autodesk. We worked assiduously to go after and close illegal and unauthorized channels to a) protect IP and copyright, and b) support authorised distributors and their dealers. Unlike say Google, which makes >90% of its money selling your eyeballs to advertisers, Microsoft makes its money selling software and related services through the authorised channels. It would be utterly idiotic for Msft to turn a blind eye to illegal and unauthorised resellers who undermine its channel-centric business model. Every single IHV, OEM, aggregator, distributor and VAD on the planet knows that.

 

[froot]

Msft certainly don't turn a blind eye. I know this first-hand. It was part of my job as Sales and Marketing Director at Microsoft to actively pursue illegal and unauthorised channels and shut them down. In South Africa I personally founded and launched the local chapter of the BSA in 1992, along with Autodesk. We worked assiduously to go after and close illegal and unauthorized channels to a) protect IP and copyright, and b) support authorised distributors and their dealers. Unlike say Google, which makes >90% of its money selling your eyeballs to advertisers, Microsoft makes its money selling software and related services through the authorised channels. It would be utterly idiotic for Msft to turn a blind eye to illegal and unauthorised resellers who undermine its channel-centric business model. Every single IHV, OEM, aggregator, distributor and VAD on the planet knows that.

As above.
PCGameWorld comes to mind

 

[Arthur]

Sorry for getting a bit explicit, but it ticks me off that people like sajunky go on spewing untruths laced with bile. He's perfectly entitled to his opinions and he's perfectly free to detest Msft or any other company or software. But when he starts retailing straight untruths as above he's going to get some pushback from people who know the facts. I have personally driven dozens of cases and even Anton Piller orders against unauthorized channels and software thieves. I've also assisted numerous industry partners and even business competitors (such as Novell in the old days) to do the same.

 

[sajunky]

Sorry for getting a bit explicit, but it ticks me off that people like sajunky go on spewing untruths laced with bile.

Utter crap, shame on you Arhur that you are trying to attack the messenger. A widespread prevalence of the informal channel is a fact and you have nothing to prove that Microsoft is unhappy with that. I am not aware of any action taken during last few years (eliminating source of the 'leak' at first place, invalidating licences originating from a wrong channel - second, not mention taking any legal action).

 

[SauRoNZA]

Utter crap, shame on you Arhur that you are trying to attack the messenger. A widespread prevalence of the informal channel is a fact and you have nothing to prove that Microsoft is unhappy with that. I am not aware of any action taken during last few years (eliminating source of the 'leak' at first place, invalidating licences originating from a wrong channel - second, not mention taking any legal action).

Pretty sure they wouldn’t invalidate the license as that would affect their end user customers.

They would go after the sellers which I’ve seen happen aplenty because they never stick around for very long.

 

[sajunky]

Pretty sure they wouldn’t invalidate the license as that would affect their end user customers.

They would go after the sellers which I’ve seen happen aplenty because they never stick around for very long.

If they wanted to do it right, they would approach licence holders responsible for the leak, invalidate all their licences for the breach of agreement, forcing them upgrading to the retail packages.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Utter crap, shame on you Arhur that you are trying to attack the messenger. A widespread prevalence of the informal channel is a fact and you have nothing to prove that Microsoft is unhappy with that. I am not aware of any action taken during last few years (eliminating source of the 'leak' at first place, invalidating licences originating from a wrong channel - second, not mention taking any legal action).

You are hardly a messenger. You are spewing complete and utter bollocks, whereas Arthur is telling the truth.

 

[sajunky]

You are hardly a messenger. You are spewing complete and utter bollocks, whereas Arthur is telling the truth.

Hey, hey, buddy. Please give a proof requested to support your utter bollocks in the following thread first so your derogatory comment will make more sense. I know you are a knowleageable person when you want, so do it. For now you are a troll: https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showth...t’s-Surface-PCs-lose-Consumer-Reports-backing

 

[ToxicBunny]

Hey, hey, buddy. Please give a proof requested to support your utter bollocks in the following thread first so your derogatory comment will make more sense. I know you are a knowleageable person when you want, so do it. For now you are a troll: https://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showth...t’s-Surface-PCs-lose-Consumer-Reports-backing

Awww so very cute little one..

and my utter bollocks in that thread? Again, Seriously? Any person who looks at the Surface Pro and thinks its User Upgradeable or User Repairable is just dense in the extreme.

 

[williebotes]

It seems to be MSDN licenses which in turn is not legal to re sell. Hope Microsoft does something about the situation.

 

[reactor_sa]

I wish Microsoft would do more about it before they decide to scrap giving bulk keys with msdn subscriptions. Abuse of the system is the primary reason we cant have nice things.