need advice - i want to buy microsoft office off ebay- read below and let me know if

jamminjamaica

Hi there

saw Microsoft office 2003 for sale on ebay the listing states the following, could you let me know if there would be any problems by buying this item.

MICROSOFT OFFICE PROFESSIONAL 2003



Package Includes:

Word 2003
Excel 2003
Access 2003
Powerpoint 2003
Outlook 2003
Frontpage 2003
Infopath 2003
Visio 2003
Full Working Licence Key, Allowing For All Office Updates To Be Downloaded From The Office Update Website.


F.A.Q



1. Is The Product A Full and Unrestricted Version Of Microsoft Office Professional 2003?

YES!

It is a full unrestricted version. (NOT A TRIAL OR UPDATE). It can be installed on its own.

2. Does The Product Code Allow For Security Updates, etc. From Microsoft?

YES!

All Products Can Be Fully Updated By Microsoft



3. How Many Machines Can This Product Be Installed On?

It Is A Multi-User Licence Key, So As Many Machines As Required.



Terms and conditions





By buying this item you are entering into an agreement to use this software in accordance with the law and I do not accept any responsibility for how this software is used, you must have legitimately purchased your own version of the software and be using these programs as back-up software, these are duplicate discs which are allowed under British copyright law and are intended only for use within these guidelines. The items are provided as a service and the buyer is to take full responsibility for their own actions concerning the items and the seller is released from any and all liabilities that may arise, expressed, written or implied.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and enjoy your purchase.



Office 2003 Pro will be on one CD-R



this product can be FULLY UPDATED by Microsoft.



(box photo is for illustration purposes only)

CD COME IN Jewel Case NO BOX HOME USE ONLY

jakemuk

well its a copied disc, with a hooky liscence by sounds of it to me

spook

I'd avoid it personally - it'll be a pirated copy. Might work for now but you might not get access to updates in the future (which might be important - such as blocking virus exploits).

Why not download Open Office for free instead?

Darksun

I wouldn't have thought this would be legal. Even if it was, for you to legally run it, you'd need an existing Office 2003 license

stewbie_2

The answers they've given in the FAQ are probably all factually correct - they're just given out of context.

It says that it is a full unrestricted version that can be installed on as many systems as required

Soooo.... What you would be buying is a Multiple User copy of Office 2003 Pro - the type sold at quite considerable cost to corporates and education sites

The interesting bits with the biggest clues in them are:

"By buying this item you are entering into an agreement to use this software in accordance with the law and I do not accept any responsibility for how this software is used"

= you bought it - if you get caught it's not my bad

"you must have legitimately purchased your own version of the software and be using these programs as back-up software, these are duplicate discs which are allowed under British copyright law and are intended only for use within these guidelines"

= I'm going to pretend that you said you already owned a full legal legitimate copy of this software and all I'm doing is selling you another CD copy for £20 which you could have made for a couple of pence - you're the one breaking the law, not me.

"The items are provided as a service and the buyer is to take full responsibility for their own actions concerning the items and the seller is released from any and all liabilities that may arise, expressed, written or implied. "

= Honestly - I'm not breaking the law - you are by buying this if you don't already own it, and I'm not going to ask you if you do, cos then I can't legally sell it to you

Yes - it will work, and it will do all the updates etc, it would just be would be unlawful to install and use.

And bear in mind - Microsoft software does phone home, and Microsoft are starting to find ways of tying down its software to legitimate owners / users.

I couldn't agree more with Spook - download OpenOffice - it is every bit as good as Microsoft Orifice and does virtually everything Orifice can do, and more.

Darksun

I'd report this guy to eBay, I'm fairly sure it's not legal to sell 'backup' copies of software.

Dammam

£20 for a pirate copy is extotionate (as well as illegal).
I reckon if you shopped around you could get a REAL copy for about double that (or less if you were lucky).

As a previous poster said, why not get Open Office or Ability office which are pretty much compatible with MS Office?

melipona

There are many ways to get legal copies of MS office at reduced prices, you may find that if you work for a large company they have a coporate deal for staff home use , my company provides this for £25. Otherwise you may qualify for a student licence, basicly if you or a 5+ child are receiving education you qualify, about £70 I think.

newfoundglory

Yeah, its definitely not legal. Its a VLK (volume license key) by the sounds of it, so it would have to be a corporate version of office (these don't require web/phone activation).

Either the key was generated by some form of keygen, or the person stole it from the Windows registry where they work, or from perhaps a school/college/uni.

Mr_Skint_2

http://www.microsoft.com/uk/piracy/default.mspx

What you need to know

Mr_Skint_2

And any way I would go for Office 2000 Premium a lot more for less money.