Ok, say it with me... "Not For Resale."

There are just some times in life when you sit back, look at something for awhile, and no matter how long you stare or how many ways you think about it, all that you can come up with is:

"What are they thinking?!?!?!?!?"

While I know there may have been an instance or two in the past where maybe there was a question about something in one of our licenses (yes, I'm being sarcastic), but this is just not one of those times. Someone posted a site in the User Group showing where a company is listing "NFR software" for sale on their site. Now just for kicks, let's assume it is legitimate NFR software. (and if you saw the listings in question, you know that the odds of "legitimate" being associated with either of the listings is not going to happen.)* If you have a box of software that states on it, "NOT FOR RESALE," isn't that self-explanatory enough? Do we really need to change the acronym from NFR to NYCSTS? (That would be, "No, You Cannot Sell This Software" for those keeping track at home).

So let me try to make this VERY simple for anyone "on the fence" over what NOT FOR RESALE means... It means, "NO YOU CANNOT SELL THIS SOFTWARE!"

If you see listings on the internet, in email, by FAX, etc. by others who apparently have difficulty in understanding what NOT FOR RESALE means, I have a few friends that I would ask you to introduce them to. You can reach them via:

Phone: 1-800-RU-LEGIT
Web: https://www.microsoft.com/piracy
E-Mail: piracy@microsoft.com

* Also, if you ever see listings that state, "This version DOES NOT come in a retail box. It comes with a CD & Authentic Keycode for activation and registration," please realize that we do not sell "CDs with Authentic Keycodes." We sell through OEM, Retail Box, and Volume Licensing. (For an overview of the differences, please see the "Common Question and Misconceptions" section of our site: https://www.mssmallbiz.com for more in-depth explanation.) If you do see listings for, "CD & Authentic Keycode for activation and registration," please also be sure to forward their contact info to my friends listed above as well.

Thank you and have a wonderful day,

Eric Ligman
Microsoft US Senior Manager
Small Business Community Engagement
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights