Windows is a must-have operating system used by home users and professionals alike. Yet its price can vary considerably depending on the type of license and the reseller, from several hundred euros on Microsoft’s official website to just a few euros on third-party platforms. Faced with such price discrepancies, it’s legitimate to wonder whether low-cost licenses are really valid, or whether they conceal dubious practices.
Buying a Windows license for less may seem like a good deal, but not all offers are created equal. Some licenses are perfectly legal, coming from resale programs governed by the law, while others come from opaque circuits, with a risk of invalidation or incompatibility. So, before making a purchase, it’s important to understand the different categories of licenses and the pitfalls to avoid, so as not to fall for a scam.
- License types and average prices
- Buying a Windows license: which platforms are reliable?
- Legality and risks of low-cost licenses: What does the law say?
- The 2012 CJEU ruling: a framework for software resale in Europe
- Microsoft license conditions: contractual restrictions and transfers
- Windows licenses at knock-down prices: should you beware?
License types and average prices
Microsoft offers several types of Windows license, each with its own characteristics and conditions of use.
Retail licenses sold directly by Microsoft or authorized resellers
They are the most expensive, costing between €150 and €250 for Windows 11. Their main advantage is their portability: they can be installed on several computers, provided they are not used simultaneously. This flexibility makes them a preferred option for those who regularly change hardware.
OEM licenses for PC manufacturers
They are considerably less expensive, available from €10 to €100. Initially designed for PC manufacturers, they are tied to a single computer, so once activated they cannot be transferred to a new computer. Although perfectly legal when purchased with new hardware, their independent resale is a grey area: some sellers offer them separately at knock-down prices, but this doesn’t really respect Microsoft’s conditions of use.
Volume licenses for large companies
They are almost systematically misused. Volume licenses (VLKs) are intended for large companies and enable multiple workstations to be activated with a single key. However, some are illegally resold on third-party platforms, exposing the buyer to the risk of deactivation.
Education licenses for middle and high schools
In theory, these are reserved for students and schools, but they are sometimes also sold on the parallel market.
The company applies a policy of tolerance, only really intervening when abuses become too flagrant.
Buying a Windows license: which platforms are reliable?
Windows licenses can be purchased on a number of different platforms, but not all of them guarantee the same legal security or level of reliability. On Amazon and Cdiscount, license offers have become rarer in recent years, probably due to tighter controls. When they are still available, they are often sold by third parties, and their legality remains uncertain: some are perfectly valid, while others come from diverted channels such as illegally resold OEM keys.
Avoid penny-pinching Windows licenses
On marketplaces like eBay and Rakuten, the situation is even murkier. Many licenses are offered at rock-bottom prices, sometimes for just a few cents. However, it is impossible for the buyer to know whether these are legally obtained keys, Volume licenses resold outside their scope of use, or even fraudulently generated keys. The same problem arises with key resellers such as CDKeys, Kinguin and G2A, which function as marketplaces where anyone can sell their licenses. While some come from legitimate surpluses, others come from opaque circuits, exposing buyers to the risk of future deactivation.
A cheap Windows license sells for between €10 and €30
Authorized resellers offer licenses that are 100% legal, compliant and up to 93% cheaper than the prices on the Microsoft website. As a member of the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN), this type of vendor sells refurbished or surplus professional licenses, while respecting the rules imposed by Microsoft and European legislation. These platforms therefore offer a secure solution for obtaining a functional Windows license without the risk of deactivation or violation of the terms of use.
Legality and risks of low-cost licenses: What does the law say?
The purchase of discounted Windows licenses raises questions about their legality and the risks involved. There is a parallel market offering Windows keys at rock-bottom prices, sometimes for as little as a few cents. But not all of these licenses comply with legal requirements or Microsoft’s terms of use.
From a legal point of view, the resale of software licenses is framed by the 2012 ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). This ruling established that the resale of used software is legal if the license was originally sold with the consent of the rights holder and the former user ceases all use. However, this legal recognition does not mean that all resold licenses are valid: some come from misappropriation of educational licenses, corporate agreements or even unauthorized markets.
Microsoft, as the owner of Windows, imposes strict contractual restrictions on the use and transfer of its licenses. The publisher actively fights against unauthorized resale by deactivating suspect keys and taking legal action against certain resellers. So it’s important to understand what the law says, the limits set by Microsoft and the real risks before buying a low-cost Windows license.
The 2012 CJEU ruling: a framework for software resale in Europe
On July 3, 2012, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handed down a major ruling in the UsedSoft GmbH vs Oracle case. This decision set a legal precedent by establishing that the resale of used software is legal in Europe even for dematerialized software.
The ruling is based on the principle of exhaustion of the distribution right. Specifically, when a publisher sells a license to a first purchaser, it can no longer prevent resale, provided that :
- The license was originally sold in the EU with the publisher’s authorization.
- The former user completely ceases to use the license (software uninstallation, removal of access rights).
- Resale concerns the entire license, not part of a batch (e.g. volume licenses).
This ruling legitimized the refurbished software market and enabled certain specialized resellers to offer licenses at reduced prices. However, it does not cover all situations. For example, fraudulently obtained licenses, those from other continents or those from restricted programs (education, volume, MSDN) remain outside the legal framework defined by the CJEU.
Microsoft, although obliged to respect this jurisprudence in Europe, actively contests these practices and is implementing strategies to limit the use of resold licenses by modifying its contracts and monitoring the activation of its products.
Microsoft license conditions: contractual restrictions and transfers
Microsoft applies license conditions (EULA – End User License Agreement) that specify the rights and restrictions associated with each type of Windows license. These restrictions directly influence the legitimacy of their resale:
Retail license (boxed or digital) :
- Transferable from one PC to another, provided it is uninstalled from the first device.
- Can be legally resold subject to compliance with CJEU ruling.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) license :
- Sold with a new PC and permanently linked to the original computer.
- Officially non-transferable except in the event of transfer of the PC with its license.
- Microsoft prohibits separate resale, although some European rulings may tolerate it under certain conditions.
Volume License Key (VLK) :
- For businesses and administrations, with multiple activation on several workstations.
- Strict contractual prohibition on resale to private individuals.
- These licenses are often misappropriated and sold illegally.
Education licenses / MSDN :
- Reserved for students or developers with a subscription.
- Non-transferable and revoked if resold to third parties.
Although European law partially protects the resale of licenses, Microsoft imposes contractual clauses that attempt to limit these practices. By purchasing a cheap license from a non-transferable program, a user is not respecting Microsoft’s terms and conditions, and can have his or her license deactivated at any time.
Windows licenses at knock-down prices: should you beware?
Buying a cheap Windows license can be a good deal, but not all offers are created equal. Some are perfectly legal, stemming from legally compliant resale channels, while others come from dubious practices, exposing the buyer to a risk of deactivation or non-compliance with Microsoft’s terms of use.
So it’s best to be cautious: check the source, give preference to authorized resellers and avoid overly tempting offers to avoid unpleasant surprises. As is often the case, if an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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