Save Money with Pre-Owned / Used Microsoft Windows Licenses in the EU
- Zo Jakab
- Dec 16, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 15
Microsoft Windows license costs can be extremely high, but if you are based in the EU, with pre-owned/used licenses, you can save up to 80%. In this article, we help you understand how.
Microsoft Windows Server Licenses: Save Up To 80%
No Upfront Payment Required - Test First, Pay Later!
Note: Only Retail and Volume licenses can be legally resold. OEM licenses that come preinstalled on hardware are tied to the original device and cannot be transferred.
What Are Pre-Owned/Used Windows Licenses?
Pre-owned or used Windows licenses are licenses that were previously bought and used by someone else but are now being resold at a much lower price. They work just like new licenses but cost significantly less.
Why Is It Legal to Buy Pre-Owned Windows Licenses?
In the EU, it's completely legal to buy and use pre-owned Windows licenses.
The European Court of Justice ruled that:
The licenses must be perpetual (not subscription-based).
The original owner must no longer be using them.
Volume licenses can only be resold in parts if each license can function independently and the original owner no longer uses them.
Available Products: Pre-Owned Windows Licenses
Windows Server License: Data Center, Windows Server, Exchange Server, SQL Server, and more (versions 2016 to 2022).
Client Access Licenses (CALs): For accessing servers.
Windows Operating Systems: Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro upgrades.
Office Applications: Word, Excel, Project, and Visio (versions 2016 to 2021).
How to Avoid Non-Trusted Suppliers for Pre-Owned Windows Licenses
To ensure you're buying from a reliable supplier:
Check Documentation: Always ask for legal proof that the license is legitimate.
Avoid Too-Good-To-Be-True Deals: Extremely low prices can be a red flag.
Verify Transfer Process: Microsoft does not directly handle used-license transfers, so ensure the seller provides full documentation proving the license’s origin, deactivation, and legality.
How Does the Purchase of Pre-Owned Windows Licenses Work with us?
No Upfront Payment: You don't pay until the license transfer is confirmed.
Legal and Secure: We provide all necessary documents to prove the license is genuine and unused.
Easy Transfer Process: Once the license is transferred to you and is ready for use, you'll receive our invoice.
Microsoft Windows Server Licenses: Save Up To 80%
No Upfront Payment Required - Test First, Pay Later!
Sources - Pre-Owned Windows Licenses
UsedSoft GmbH v. Oracle International Corp. (ECJ, July 3, 2012) — the landmark case that permits resale of perpetual software licenses in the EU.
Sale Of Used Software Licences – Mondaq — explanation of how the UsedSoft ruling affects reselling perpetual licenses.
UsedSoft decision and exhaustion doctrine (legal analysis) — how the exhaustion principle applies to software in the EU.
The end of the UsedSoft case and implications for used software licences — a legal viewpoint on the UsedSoft precedent.



