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A cheap licence key can be reputable: no contradiction

Cheap and reputable are not mutually exclusive when buying software licences. There is a legally sound reason why verified licences cost significantly less than brand-new ones. Here we explain that reason and how you can buy cheaply without taking any risk.

At a glance

Can a low-cost licence key be reputable? Yes. We explain why the principle of exhaustion makes legal price reductions possible and how to buy cheaply yet reputably.

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Why a cheap key can be reputable

The price difference between a licence bought from the manufacturer and a verified pre-owned licence has a name: the principle of exhaustion. Once a software licence has been lawfully sold, it may be resold. The manufacturer cannot prohibit the secondary market. The European Court of Justice decided this in 2012 with judgment C-128/11; in Switzerland, Art. 12 para. 2 CopA applies.

On the secondary market, a price of its own forms that lies below the new price. This is not a trick and not a quality defect, but rather a market economy with a legal basis. A cheap key can therefore be entirely reputable if it comes from this legal secondary market.

How to buy cheaply yet reputably

  • A real, verifiable company. Reputable providers have a public commercial register entry and a valid VAT ID, both verifiable in minutes. Bargain-basement providers often hide behind a sham company or none at all. Check the retailers below yourself.
  • Ask for a VAT invoice. It is the proof of purchase and a sign of a commercially identifiable provider.
  • Accept a realistic price. Cheap means significantly below the new price, not a fraction of it. If prices are extremely low, it is better to be suspicious.
  • Use the activation guarantee. It makes a cheap purchase as safe as an expensive one from the manufacturer.

Keywi24 reviews on Trusted Shops

We do not host our own reviews. Independently verifiable on Trusted Shops – verbal rating currently Excellent.

Verify for yourself

You can verify the seller yourself, in two minutes

Who stands behind a shop is publicly verifiable: a reputable dealer has a real company with a registry entry and a valid VAT number, both of which can be inspected. The origin of an individual key cannot be proven from the outside, but it can be verified whether a tangible company stands behind the shop. With us, you can even do it live, right here.

Company
Kewee OÜ
Tallinn, Estonia
Registry code
17352418
EU VAT no.
In the Estonian commercial register

Frequently asked questions

Can a cheap license key be legitimate?

Yes. The price advantage is based on the principle of exhaustion, which permits the resale of lawfully acquired licenses. A low-priced key from this legal secondary market is legitimate.

So why is the license cheaper at all?

Because it is second-hand. The original buyer acquired it lawfully and passes it on. On the secondary market a price below the new price emerges, with no loss of quality whatsoever.

How can I tell whether something cheap is also legitimate?

By a VAT invoice, reachable support and an activation guarantee. And by a price that is low but not unrealistically cheap.

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About Keywi24

Keywi24 is a Swiss online shop for verified pre-owned Microsoft and antivirus software licences. The team has in-depth market knowledge from over five years of experience. Our goal is not to become the largest licence shop, but the most trusted.

That’s why we don’t invest in marketing hype, but in 90 days of real technical support after every purchase. Legal basis: CJEU ruling C-128/11 (03.07.2012) and Art. 12 para. 2 URG.

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