The Windows Secrets newsletter had a series of comments about who can legally use OEM licensed Windows OSes.
This issue sums it up fairly well: http://windowssecrets.com/links/ro6hca8gvq3fd/3aa7fbh/ro6hca8gvq3fu/94676-12050r/?url=WindowsSecrets.com%2Fissue%2F070510%2F%3Fu%3D%24P20 Here are some pertinent sections: "A similar point is made by another reader, Sean Toner, who writes to point out that the OEM license agreement<http://windowssecrets.com/links/$P20d/2dbc9fh/?url=www.sbslinks.com%2Foem1.htm>actually defines a system builder more broadly than one might assume. It states that a system builder is "an original equipment manufacturer, an assembler, refurbisher, or pre-installer of software on computer systems." Still another reader, Poul Andeersen, cites a Microsoft posting on the Small Business Community Blog<http://windowssecrets.com/links/$P20d/c50495h/?url=blogs.msdn.com%2Fmssmallbiz%2Farchive%2F2007%2F02%2F18%2Foem-microsoft-software-clarifications-plus-if-it-s-labeled-oem-you-should-stay-away-from-that-neil-macbride-of-the-bsa-business-software-alliance-about-buying-software-online.aspx>stating that "OEM system builder software packs ... are not intended for distribution to end users. Unless the end user is actually assembling his/her own PC, in which case, *that end user is considered a system builder * as well." [emphasis added] Such a statement suggests that hobbyists who are assembling or refurbishing a system may legitimately buy OEM system builder products." -- John DeCarlo, My Views Are My Own ************************************************************************ * ==> QUICK LIST-COMMAND REFERENCE - Put the following commands in <== * ==> the body of an email & send 'em to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <== * Join the list: SUBSCRIBE COMPUTERGUYS-L Your Name * Too much mail? Try Daily Digests command: SET COMPUTERGUYS-L DIGEST * Tired of the List? Unsubscribe command: SIGNOFF COMPUTERGUYS-L * New address? From OLD address send: CHANGE COMPUTERGUYS-L YourNewAddress * Need more help? Send mail to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************************************ * List archive at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ * RSS at www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.xml * Messages bearing the header "X-No-Archive: yes" will not be archived ************************************************************************
