software-directive

The software-directive tag covers discussions about the EU Software Directive and its exhaustion rule, particularly as it applies to the resale of pre-owned Windows and Office licences. Recent threads focus on the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal case between Microsoft and ValueLicensing, where Microsoft argues that copyright in non-program elements like graphical user interfaces may place those elements outside the directive's exhaustion rule, potentially restricting the legal resale of used software. This tag is relevant for IT purchasers, resellers, and legal professionals tracking how software licensing and copyright law intersect with the secondary market for Microsoft products.