Microsoft KB Archive/83926

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Windows 3.1 Licensing Policy Allows for One Copy per License

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Q83926

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11

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SUMMARY
The licensing policy for the Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1 is different from the licensing policy for Windows 3.0. The Windows 3.1 licensing agreement allows for only one installation per license.

MORE INFORMATION
Under the licensing agreements for Microsoft applications software and Windows 3.0, if the software is permanently installed on the hard disk or other storage device of a computer (other than a network server) and one person uses that computer more than 80 percent of the time it is in use, then that person may also use the software on a portable or home computer.

However, Windows 3.1 is considered systems software and therefore follows the same licensing agreement as MS-DOS (that is, you must purchase one copy of the software for each machine).

The following is a copy from Grant of License section of Windows 3.1 license card:

"Grant of License. Microsoft grants to you the right to use one copy of the enclosed Microsoft software program (the &quot;SOFTWARE&quot;) on a single computer. The SOFTWARE is in &quot;use&quot; on a computer when it is loaded into temporary memory (i.e., RAM) or installed into permanent memory (e.g., hard disk, CD-ROM, or other storage device) of that computer. However, installation on a network server for the sole purpose of distribution to one or more other computer(s) shall not constitute &quot;use&quot; for which a separate license is required." All Microsoft license agreements are version-specific, meaning that they apply only to the version of the product that you acquired with the license. If you upgrade from Windows 3.0 to Windows 3.1, you only have one license for Windows. The Windows 3.1 license replaces the Windows 3.0 license.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 home use

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Issue type :

Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbWin310 kbWin311