Is second-hand software really legal? What the 2011 EU ruling means

A genuine Windows or Office licence for just a few euros? A lot of people wonder whether that’s actually allowed. The short answer is yes. Second-hand software is legal, and there’s a clear legal basis for it. In this article we calmly explain how it works.

The ruling that changed everything

In 2012, the European Court of Justice handed down a landmark ruling in the case of UsedSoft versus Oracle. The essence: anyone who buys a software licence is also allowed to resell it. The maker cannot prohibit this once the licence has been sold for an indefinite period. This principle is known as exhaustion of the distribution right.

In other words: a legal licence stays legal, even when it changes hands.

Where do these licences come from?

Companies go bankrupt or switch to other systems. Their genuine licences are then left unused. Through insolvency administrators and specialised intermediaries, those licences come back onto the market. They are real, fully functional and come straight from Microsoft, Autodesk or Adobe.

What should you watch out for?

• Buy from a seller who is transparent about where the licences come from.
• Check whether you receive an invoice and support.
• Make sure there is a guarantee or money-back policy.

How Licono does it

At Licono we sell only genuine licences from a legal source. You always get an invoice, free installation help and a money-back guarantee. That way you benefit from a low price without any risk.

Curious what that gets you? Take a look at our Windows licences, for example, and see how much you can save.