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Microsoft backs down over Office 2013 software transfers

by Mark Tyson on 6 March 2013, 16:08

Tags: PC

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Just three weeks ago HEXUS readers were getting very shirty about a change in Microsoft’s Office licensing agreement; of course it was a change in Microsoft’s favour. The licensing tweaks, which users agreed to upon installing the latest version of Office, “permanently assigned” the software to that computer. If you were ever to get a new computer for any reason other than your “PC failed under warranty”, you would need to buy a new copy of Office.

Even a vole will turn

In a blog post today Jevon Fark, from the Microsoft Office Team announced a turnaround. Fark wrote “Based on customer feedback we have changed the Office 2013 retail license agreement to allow customers to transfer the software from one computer to another.” He went into further detail to explain “This means customers can transfer Office 2013 to a different computer if their device fails or they get a new one. Previously, customers could only transfer their Office 2013 software to a new device if their PC failed under warranty.”

If you already sold your soul – don’t worry

Even if you have already bought Office 2013, installed, agreed to the draconian license and then started using the software the new licensing terms are effective immediately for your software. The new licensing amendment applies to these software products; “applies to Office Home and Student 2013, Office Home and Business 2013, Office Professional 2013 and the standalone Office 2013 applications”.

Legal eagles may like to have a look at the updated text of the transferability provision, so I have quoted it in full below:

  • Updated transferability provision to the Retail License Terms of the Software License Agreement for Microsoft Office 2013 Desktop Application Software:
  • Can I transfer the software to another computer or user? You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you, but not more than one time every 90 days (except due to hardware failure, in which case you may transfer sooner). If you transfer the software to another computer, that other computer becomes the "licensed computer." You may also transfer the software (together with the license) to a computer owned by someone else if a) you are the first licensed user of the software and b) the new user agrees to the terms of this agreement before the transfer. Any time you transfer the software to a new computer, you must remove the software from the prior computer and you may not retain any copies.

The turnaround is a sensible move by Microsoft. There are cheaper, or even free, alternatives to its Office suite and accurate file compatibility, an oft repeated reason for sticking with Microsoft, is getting better all the time. The Office blog doesn’t mention this fact in explaining the U-turn though, instead Jevon Fark writes “A key ingredient in our formula for success is listening to our customers, and we're grateful for the feedback behind this change in Office licensing. Thank you.”



HEXUS Forums :: 14 Comments

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Good call, it was going to be a real PR disaster if they'd persisted.
Now, allow 3 machine licence for Home/Student edition as per 2007 and 2010 editions, and we'll all get along famously.
“This means customers can transfer Office 2013 to a different computer if their device fails or they get a new one. Previously, customers could only transfer their Office 2013 software to a new device if their PC failed under warranty.”
Hmm, a question about the previous arrangement - how does this apply to folks who didn't buy their PC ready-built? (Which, I'm sure, is a situation that applies to a lot of Hexus readers). As I see it there are two choices:
(a) No official warranty, so no chance to migrate that copy of Office, even if your new rig failed 30 seconds after Office was installed;
(b) It's down to the “manufacturer” (/assembler) to decide what warranty they see as reasonable.

I'm very, very sure that (a) is the arrangement Microsoft were thinking, but it does amuse me to think that because my latest rig has a “lifetime warranty” from “Crossy's PC's” I'd be able to categorise any failure as being covered under warranty. That said, my DOA failures have invariably been down to Microsoft's operating system rather than hardware issues. :p

Getting back to the article, good news that Microsoft has listened to the chorus of disapproval for what was, by all accounts, a bone-headed move. Now if they allowed a 1:1 migration of my current H&O Office 2010 3 user license then I'd be happy.
I'm surprised they, erm, u-turned, but delighted, because short of this change, no way would I buy another version of Office.

Having said that, after the original numpty decision, I will still be looking long and very hard at alternatives, like Libre. I might not be able to avoid MS Office entirely, but I can for many purposes.

So I'm glad for the change, but at least in part, the damage is done with me, because going MS for Office software is no longer an automatic reflex for me.
I'm not surprised. Recently been fined in the EU for not giving browser choices clearly enough. Licencing one PC only would also infringe on the EU's policy that companies have to allow software to be sold second hand.