Can I Legally Sell my Retail Office XP Pro?

[yellorowz]

My dad came across a retail copy of the two CD set of MS Office XP Pro with the product key on the jewel case. He gave it to me since I use XP. I installed and activated the HUGE program (before realizing that I could use it 50 times or so before I had to activate), and now I discover that it's just not a program that I would use much.

I would like to sell it on eBay. If I uninstall it from my system, will a buyer be able to activate the program?

[Baser-X]

If it has never been activated, the buyer will have no problems activating it online.

If it has been previously activated (by you or the previous owner), the buyer may (read as: most likely will) need to call M$ to activate it. You may need to supply the buyer with some previous registration info.

Your best bet would be to call M$ yourself before selling and tell them that you are going to sell it on e-bay. They'll at least be able to tell you if it was ever activated before and probably be able to tell you what you need to do to sell it so the buyer will have no problems activating it.

[yellorowz]

If it has never been activated, the buyer will have no problems activating it online.

If it has been previously activated (by you or the previous owner), the buyer may (read as: most likely will) need to call M$ to activate it. You may need to supply the buyer with some previous registration info.

Your best bet would be to call M$ yourself before selling and tell them that you are going to sell it on e-bay. They'll at least be able to tell you if it was ever activated before and probably be able to tell you what you need to do to sell it so the buyer will have no problems activating it.
Ok, thank you Baser. I think you are right that I should call Microsoft BEFORE I attempt to sell it. Have a great day!

[twistedcranium]

I know this might be an aside from your original question, but you should really look into the legality of selling this copy. If it was an OEM version, supplied via a PC manufacturer, then I don't believe you're allowed to sell it.

Really, you should look into the legality of rather than the issue of activating.

Also, you need to determine how this CD came into your hands, you could be in some serious trouble if you even 'attempt' to sell this.

As a moderator here at CTH I must also ask you to re-read the CTH Terms of Service as well, where issues like this are covered as part of your participation in the forums. There is a link to the Terms of Service in my signature.

[twistedcranium]

Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Product Activation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;302878

and some more information can be found at
http://www.microsoft.com/piracy/default.asp

[renegade600]

here (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/office/xp/all/reskit/en-us/eula.mspx) is a copy of Microsoft Office EULA

[yellorowz]

I know this might be an aside from your original question, but you should really look into the legality of selling this copy. If it was an OEM version, supplied via a PC manufacturer, then I don't believe you're allowed to sell it.

Really, you should look into the legality of rather than the issue of activating.

Also, you need to determine how this CD came into your hands, you could be in some serious trouble if you even 'attempt' to sell this.

As a moderator here at CTH I must also ask you to re-read the CTH Terms of Service as well, where issues like this are covered as part of your participation in the forums. There is a link to the Terms of Service in my signature.
Hi Twisted,

I perhaps shouldn't have made reference to "legality" in the title of this topic thread. I have done much research at the sites mentioned by others here since I posted the question. The terminology (legalese) is confusing to me, so I hoped that by posting the question here, others with knowledge of software could explain in English how one goes about transferring ownership.

This software that I want to sell was owned by someone before it was given to me, and it isn't OEM.

[renegade600]

This software that I want to sell was owned by someone before it was given to me, and it isn't OEM.

That is why you really need to contact microsoft. Do you know for a fact that the software is still not being used by the previous owner?

[yellorowz]

That is why you really need to contact microsoft. Do you know for a fact that the software is still not being used by the previous owner?
I have to assume that since I was able to install and activate the program, that the previous owner is no longer using it. And a lightbulb goes off - this must mean that it was never activated before?

[renegade600]

And a lightbulb goes off - this must mean that it was never activated before?

not always...

[yellorowz]

not always...
Just to let everyone know, I did contact Microsoft, both online, and by phone, to be sure that I didn't get conflicting responses. I gave them the product key, and they were able to punch it in, and determine that the software is genuine, and OK to sell. I need only uninstall it from my machine.

Thanks for all your input!

[zipulrich]

Thank you for letting us know Microsoft's answer!

[twistedcranium]

Hey yellowrowz.... now that you're getting rid of your copy of Office, you might, just for *giggles*, try out OpenOffice. It is an OpenSource "Office-Like" product that is very compatible with MS Office.

And since it is OpenSource, it can be had for free and only the time and trouble of a download. *Warning: it is a hefty download, I think 60-70 MB so you should only try it with a broadband connection*

http://www.openoffice.org/