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Pre-Owned Windows Licenses

Pre-Owned Microsoft Licenses - Smart, Safe, Legal 

Cut Your IT Costs by Up to 80%

Audit-proof server and client access (CAL) licenses with legally approved documentation

Application Licenses 

Office Standard: 2021, 2019, 2016
Office Professional Plus: 2021, 2019, 2016
Project Standard: 2021, 2019, 2016
Project Professional: 2021, 2019, 2016
Visio Standard: 2021, 2019, 2016
Visio Professional: 2021, 2019, 2016

Client Access Licenses (CALs)

Core CAL (User & Device): 2022, 2019, 2016
Enterprise CAL (User & Device): 2022, 2019, 2016
Single Server CAL (User & Device)

Operating Systems

Windows 11 Pro Upgrade License
Windows 10 Pro Upgrade License

Server Licenses

Windows Server Standard: 2022, 2019, 2016 (2 core)
Windows Server Data Center: 2022, 2019, 2016 (2 core)
Exchange Server Standard: 2022, 2019, 2016
Exchange Server Enterprise: 2022, 2019, 2016
SQL Server Standard (Core & Server/CALs): 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016
SQL Server Enterprise (Core & Server/CALs): 2022, 2019, 2017, 2016
SharePoint Server: 2022, 2019, 2016
System Center Configuration Manager: 2022, 2019, 2016 (2 core)

Legal framework for the Secondary Software License Market
  • The European Court of Justice established the rule known as "exhaustion of distribution rights" in its ruling: 

    • Trading of preowned licenses is enabled based on the following eligibility conditions:

I

The licenses must be perpetual, subscription licenses cannot be resold.

II

Licenses that were originally sold in a bundle cannot be sold separately.

III

Licenses must have been acquired or first downloaded and installed in the EEA (European Economic Area)

IV

The seller of the licenses must be able to establish full ownership of the license, and must have uninstalled or removed access to the software to which the license relates.

  • Court of Justice of the European Union, Judgment in Case C-128/11 UsedSoft GmbH v Oracle International Corp., 3 July 2012

Legal information

Judgements in recent years

ECJ ruling / 03.07.2012

The ECJ clarifies that the exhaustion principle also applies to software that is made available via download. The court opens up the opportunity to sell software licences under certain conditions.

BGH ruling / 17.07.2013

Confirmation and clarification of the ECJ ruling by the federal court.

BGH ruling / 12.12.2014

Splitting of volume licences as well as separate sale is permitted.

What do you need to be aware of?
Pre-owned licensing adds a layer of compliance risk

Make sure your pre-owned licensing partner uses a renowned auditor to verify their procurements.

Licensing terms for pre-owned licences might differ from current licensing terms

Know who you're dealing with, challenge your pre-owned licensing partner with licensing-related questions and make sure to apply the right licensing terms for your environment.

Consumer/education licences are not applicable in business environments

Make sure you acquire pre-owned commercial Microsoft volume licences.

A licence transfer is only finalized once it has been administratively transferred by Microsoft

Make sure the licences transferred to you are administrated with Microsoft.

If it looks too good to be true...

If the price seems too low, even for pre-owned licenses, don't fall for it; ask for documentation.

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