MSDN Subscription Software Use Rights

MSDN subscriptions are licensed on a per-user basis.  One person can use the software to design, develop, test, or demonstrate his or her programs on any number of devices.  Each person who uses the software this way needs a license.

MSDN Subscriptions are only offered per individual, there are no “team” subscriptions or sharing of subscription benefits.  You should select the right MSDN Subscription for each person on your software development team based on the software that person needs to use and the support benefits required. Remember that team members who install the software (such as IT Professionals who install software for a test lab) will also need an MSDN subscription. 

In most cases, MSDN Subscriptions come with “perpetual” use rights—the ability to continue using the software after the subscription has expired, even though the ability to download software and product keys ends when the subscription expires. An expired subscriber can only use software that was available during the subscription term for the subscription level purchased; software released after subscription expiration cannot be used. MSDN Subscriptions offered through retail channels and most Volume Licensing programs (Enterprise Agreement, Select, Select Plus, Open Value, Open, etc.) come with perpetual use rights unless otherwise specified. Certain "subscription" Volume Licensing programs (Enterprise Agreement Subscription, Open Value Subscription, Open Subscription, etc.) as well as subscriptions offered through the Microsoft Partner Program do not have perpetual use rights, so it is necessary to renew the subscription or program membership in order to continue using the software. If you sell or transfer a subscription to another party, any perpetual use rights are transferred to the new party so you would need to purchase a new subscription in order to continue using the software.

If you have an MSDN Premium subscription, you can also install and use one copy of certain desktop applications on one device for any purpose. These products are:

Many MSDN subscribers use a computer for mixed use—both design, development, testing, and demonstration of your programs (the use allowed under the MSDN Subscription license) and some other use.  Using the software in any other way, such as for doing email, playing games, or editing a document is another use and is not covered by the MSDN Subscription license.  When this happens, the underlying operating system must also be licensed normally by purchasing a regular copy of Windows such as the one that came with a new OEM PC.

Windows Embedded products have additional software license terms that are governed by the specific product end user licensing agreement (EULA). Windows Embedded software cannot be used to run business operations or to distribute the Windows Embedded software for commercial purposes (e.g., licensing, leasing or selling the Windows Embedded software, distributing it in a product to customers for evaluation purposes or distributing it for use with commercial products). Additional steps are necessary to distribute the Windows Embedded software for commercial purposes. Microsoft Embedded Authorized Distributors can guide the subscriber through the licensing, certifying and shipping requirements.

When software development projects are nearing completion, an MSDN Subscription license also allows your end users to access the software to perform acceptance tests on your programs.

Need the full details?  Software use rights for customers who have purchased the license through a Microsoft Volume Licensing program are governed by the Product Use Rights Document .  All other MSDN Subscribers are governed by the Retail Software License Terms (select “MSDN Subscriptions” for the Product Name).  If your subscription has expired, the licensing terms in effect while the subscription was active remain applicable.