MS Academic License for VS.NET Pro

[lightatdawn]

So I'm looking into buying VS.NET 2003 Professional Edition soon. I can get an Academic copy through the university for about $100. This is obviously a whole lot better than the $2000 retail price. Of course, I asked about licence agreements and was told that Academic versions cannot be used to compile applications for resale.

_However_, I was unable to get a copy of the licence, as so was resigned to searching msdn. I was unable to find _anything_ that indicated the Academic version had any limitations on the sale of the end product.

This:
http://www.msdnaa.net/EULA/NA/English.aspx

appears to be the End-User-License, but its not 100% clear.

I'm wondering if someone who has the Academic Pro (or knows about it) can tell me its limits.

Thanks.

[RoD]

I hear that alot from colleges, maybe they are saying it to cover their own behind?

[Ken Fitlike]

Originally posted by lightatdawn
Of course, I asked about licence agreements and was told that Academic versions cannot be used to compile applications for resale.

_However_, I was unable to get a copy of the licence, as so was resigned to searching msdn. I was unable to find _anything_ that indicated the Academic version had any limitations on the sale of the end product.

Second paragraph:

This Amendment allows for the not-for-profit instructional and non-commercial research use by a Qualified Educational User (as hereinafter defined) of the Software provided under the EULA. This Amendment further allows the Qualified Educational User to utilize the Software for the not-for-profit design, development and testing of software applications or hardware created by Qualified Educational User. Software includes subscription updates provided by Microsoft (as defined in the EULA). A Qualified Educational User does not have to be a not-for-profit entity; the use of the Software must be not-for-profit.

Section 1.5:

1.5 "Use" shall mean the non-commercial use of the Software...conduct non-commercial research projects utilizing the Software...

Section 2.1 appears to refer to deleted paragraphs within that amended eula so you may get a better idea of the differences between the academic and 'professional' product by making a comparison with the full, non-amended eula.

I don't know much (nor care to) about legal jargon but 'not-for-profit' and 'non-commercial' seem pretty unambiguous. Since the eula uses both terms they probably have subtly different but legally precise meanings; it's probably best not to 'research' that world-class application/algorithm you've been mulling over using the academic version.

How about try before you buy? It may also help you to resolve some of those 'optimization' issues you've been wondering about lately.

[lightatdawn]

>>Second paragraph:

Hm, and just how did I miss that? Gracias Mr Fitlike.

I'm unsure of my course of action at this point, but at least I can mull it over with all the right information now.

[vasanth]

Does it mean that i can build application and distribute it if i am giving the application out freely... Then i would charge something like a a service charge or a CD charge or something like that