Do you have to prove you're a student or teacher?

Hi, if you install an academic full retail version of office 2007, do you have to prove that you're a student or teacher? How do they enforce this so that people don't just buy the academic or students editions? If you stop being a student, how do they know that you're using it for non-academic purposes? I have the chance of buying an academic full retail version of it, but I don't want to fork out $100 to find that I can't install or activate it. Any input would be gratefully received.

 

I believe the retailer is responsible for verifying eligibility for academically priced software.

They don't. But, as long as you were a qualified buyer at the time of purchase, you are not prohibited from continuing to use it if you later cease to be a qualified student or teacher. This is my recollection from a phone call to Microsoft in the summer of 2008 when I purchasd Office 2007 from a college bookstore while taking a class at that school.

I also asked them whether I would able to upgrade an academic version via a regular retail upgrade disk for a later version of Office sometime in the future. They assured me I would be able to do that.

Edit: One more comment. As I recall, the license agreement emphasizes that the software is for academic use only. That's why I called Microsoft. I had the same question as you. And, the rep with whom I spoke assured me I could continue using it after I am no longer have student status.

 

From usafveteran

This may be true but most retailers need the sale, so don't bother.
Basically I think it is left up to the purchaser and their conscience, or lack of.

Bazza

 

Some sites require an authentic email account with a .edu .
(Have run across this a couple of times especially with higher end stuff like Adobe.)

 

The agreements is so vague that as long as you are a student or someone who is with you when you buy it, is a student, or you are letting a student use your computer, they will sell it to you. The only ones with some type of restrictions are some online sites... I think MS should just make each one the same price and that will save the confusion and peoples moral convictions

 

Well thanks for all that input. Yes I agree that if they stopped foolin around with all these versions and just charged one price (an average of all those versions) then it would stop a lot of anxiety. So if I buy a used academic Office 2007 then I should be okay? If I buy a new academic version, I should be paranoid and expect a call from Microsoft?

 

Trust me you will not get a call from MS they are supposed to screen buyers in the beginning not after the fact.