Why used software is legal for businesses
The resale of lawfully acquired software licences is covered by the principle of exhaustion, confirmed by the ECJ ruling C-128/11 and, under Swiss law, by Art. 12 para. 2 CopA. This applies expressly to commercial use as well. A company may buy used licences and use them productively.
The savings effect is substantial. Verified pre-owned licences are priced well below the new price. When equipping ten or more workstations, this adds up to a noticeable amount, without the company having to compromise on functionality or legal certainty.
What businesses should look out for when purchasing
- VAT invoice per licence. The standard proof of purchase for accounting and audits, sufficient in the vast majority of cases.
- Sourcing documentation on request. If an audit procedure requires more, we provide the additional documentation free of charge.
- Activation guarantee instead of a promise about provenance. As a buyer, you cannot verify the provenance of a licence yourself. What matters is a provider with a genuine commercial register entry and a valid VAT ID, plus an activation guarantee with free replacement should a key ever fail to activate. Check the dealers below for yourself.
- Reputable provider. Reachable support and proper order handling are the touchstones.