Legality of installing Office Small Business XP on multiple computers?

[zCypher]

I'm not sure about this, and someone was asking so I want to inform myself. I'll do more research on the matter of course, but I was curious as to what people here thought - if anyone has a good idea on the matter.

So if you purchase MS Office XP Small Business edition - can you legally install that copy on two of your own computers? Or do you need to purchase another "license" to do so? I'm assuming you would need multiple licenses but then you're spending a lot of money for nothing really. Or does it being the "Small Business" edition mean you can install it on more than one of your business computers?

 

[RDMustang1]

It's illegal if you only have 1 license (sometimes a "license" can be for multiple users, but if you only have 1 license valid for 1 user then you can legally only install it on 1 computer)...

[EDIT]: The reason the small business version costs more is because they know you are making money using their software and it's sort of a way to cash in on profits made off of the software (sort of a royalty of sorts)

 

[zCypher]

RDMustang1 - thanks for the reply. So how do you know what your "license" is good for (ie, how many users)? Is it defaultly 1 user? Does getting a license for multiple users cost as much as buying another copy of office altogether?

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: zCypher
RDMustang1 - thanks for the reply. So how do you know what your "license" is good for (ie, how many users)? Is it defaultly 1 user? Does getting a license for multiple users cost as much as buying another copy of office altogether?

You know when you install it, and it comes up with that license agreement that you never read and just hit "agree" real quick? Read that, it will tell you.

 

[zCypher]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: zCypher
RDMustang1 - thanks for the reply. So how do you know what your "license" is good for (ie, how many users)? Is it defaultly 1 user? Does getting a license for multiple users cost as much as buying another copy of office altogether?

You know when you install it, and it comes up with that license agreement that you never read and just hit "agree" real quick? Read that, it will tell you.

I don't have Office Small Business Edition - I was just asking so I would be more informed, so that if someone asks me something similar again, I would be able to better answer their question.

But yes I do usually just click next/"I Agree".

 

[newuser]

I think you can upgrade to multipe accounts for a fee. Talk to or mail microsoft directly.

 

[duhh]

this article discusses your question... granted i think the BSA has a poor method of generating statistics (i.e. making up numbers)....

excerpt:

"The main source of software piracy remains businesses buying one copy of software legally and then installing it over several computers, said Robert Holleyman, president and chief executive of the Business Software Alliance"

 

[MrChad]

Microsoft allows you to install Office on a primary PC and a second portable PC with a single license.

Details (Word doc)

 

[Workin']

Originally posted by: MrChad
Microsoft allows you to install Office on a primary PC and a second portable PC with a single license.

Details (Word doc)

ONLY if that single license is a RETAIL license and NOT OEM.

"Small Business Edition" refers to some useless little add-on templates and stuff that comes with that version of Office that would allegedly be of interest to a small business owner. It has nothing to do with the licensing provisions.