Microsoft has reversed course on its previous stance on allowing users to transfer Office 2013 to a different computer, now allowing customers to do so for Office 2013 if their device fails or if they get a new device. Previously, customers could only transfer Office 2013 to a new device if that device failed under warranty.
The change was made based on customer feedback, according to a post on Microsoft's Office blog site and is equivalent to those found in Office 2010 retail license terms.
Related: 5 New Microsoft Office 365 Features For VARs To Capitalize On
The change is effective immediately and applies to Office Home and Student 2013, Office Home and Business 2013, Office Professional 2013 and the standalone Office 2013 applications, according to Jevon Fark, a member of Microsoft's Office team, on the blog. Office 2013 licenses can't be transferred more than once every 90 days except due to hardware failure, according to Microsoft.
"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," Microsoft wrote.
PUBLISHED MARCH 6, 2013
