Licensing brief September 2020 Downgrade rights for …

1 Licensing brief September 2020. Downgrade rights for microsoft Commercial Licensing , OEM, and full-package product licenses This brief applies to all microsoft Licensing programs. Contents Summary .. 1. Details .. 1. Downgrade rights by product pool for licenses acquired through Commercial Licensing , OEM, and FPP .. 2. Frequently asked questions .. 3. General .. 3. Windows 4. 6. Skype for Business and sharepoint .. 6. Windows Server .. 7. Summary This Licensing brief helps explain the Downgrade rights for the most commonly acquired systems License Terms granted by microsoft Commercial Licensing programs and how they compare with original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and retail full-package product (FPP) license rights .

2 Details microsoft Commercial Licensing agreements include references to specific rights to use any prior versions of microsoft licensed software. These rights are often referred to as Downgrade rights .. microsoft distinguishes between the term version and edition when referring to product licenses. The term edition means different functional offerings within a product family that are usually released simultaneously (for example, microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 and microsoft Office Standard 2019). The term version refers to different generations of a product family (for example, microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 and microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016).

3 Downgrade rights between the current generation (N), the prior generation (N-1), and the generation prior to that (N-2) are limited to the same functional editions within each version (for example, Windows September 2020 1. Downgrade rights for microsoft Commercial Licensing , OEM, and full-package product licenses 10 Enterprise downgrades to Windows 8 Enterprise or Windows 7 Enterprise; however, Windows 10 Pro doesn't Downgrade to Windows 8 Enterprise or Windows 7 Enterprise). For more information about access to prior product versions, please see the microsoft Commercial Licensing fulfillment information.

4 The following table compares Commercial Licensing Downgrade rights with those provided under OEM and retail (FPP) licenses. Downgrade rights by product pool for licenses acquired through Commercial Licensing , OEM, and FPP. Software license agreement Application software System software Server software type Commercial Licensing Downgrade rights are granted Downgrade rights are granted Downgrade rights are programs with all application software with all system software granted with all server licenses acquired through the licenses acquired through the software licenses Commercial Licensing Commercial Licensing acquired through the programs.

5 Programs. Commercial Licensing Please refer to the microsoft programs. Commercial Licensing Product Please refer to the Terms for current information microsoft Commercial about which OEM Licensing Product Terms applications qualify for for current information enrollment in Software about which retail and Assurance within 90 days OEM applications qualify from the date the licenses are for enrollment in acquired. Software Assurance within 90 days from the date the licenses are acquired. Licenses enrolled in Downgrade rights are granted Downgrade rights are granted Downgrade rights are microsoft Software for any license enrolled in for any license enrolled in granted for any license Assurance Software Assurance.

6 Software Assurance. enrolled in Software Please refer to the microsoft Assurance. Commercial Licensing Product Please refer to the Terms for current information microsoft Commercial about which OEM Licensing Product Terms applications qualify for for current information enrollment in Software about which retail and Assurance within 90 days OEM Server Software from the date you acquired qualify for enrollment in the licenses. Software Assurance within 90 days from the date you acquired the licenses. OEM microsoft Software rights to OEM versions of rights to OEM versions of rights to server software License Terms application software are system software are granted in are granted in the OEM.

7 Granted in the OEM microsoft the OEM License Terms. The License Terms. The OEM. Software License Terms. The OEM License Terms for License Terms for most September 2020 2. Downgrade rights for microsoft Commercial Licensing , OEM, and full-package product licenses Software license agreement Application software System software Server software type OEM License Terms for OEM Windows 10 Pro, Windows OEM versions released versions of application Pro, Windows 8 Pro, Windows with or after the Windows software do not grant 7 Professional, Windows 7 Server 2003 R2 operating Downgrade rights . Ultimate, Windows Vista system allow for Please refer to the OEM Business, and Windows Vista Downgrade rights to an license terms for complete Ultimate operating systems earlier version of the details.

8 Grant Downgrade rights . See software. New products the full text of the OEM that do not have earlier License Terms for the specific versions do not allow Downgrade rights . downgrades. See the full Please refer to the OEM license text of the applicable terms for complete details. OEM License Terms for the specific Downgrade rights . Please refer to the OEM. license terms for complete details. FPP microsoft Software Downgrade rights are not Downgrade rights are not Some server products License Terms granted under most FPP granted under FPP system offer Downgrade rights . application licenses. licenses.

9 Please refer to the FPP. Please refer to the FPP license Please refer to the FPP license license terms for terms for complete details. terms for complete details. complete details. Frequently asked questions General Q1: Where can I confirm my specific Downgrade rights and eligible versions to Downgrade for my organization's Commercial Licensing agreement? A: Downgrade rights ( rights to use any prior version) are granted as part of all the Commercial Licensing agreements. Please refer to the microsoft Product Terms site for specific Downgrade paths for your products. September 2020 3. Downgrade rights for microsoft Commercial Licensing , OEM, and full-package product licenses Q2: How do I get prior versions of products when I need to Downgrade to a prior version of a microsoft product my organization licenses through Commercial Licensing ?

10 A: While you have the right to Downgrade products, in general, the microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) provides download access only to the current (N) and the prior version (N-1) of products. Note: In addition to the VLSC download software access, all Commercial Licensing customers may choose to purchase physical media (CD/DVD) copies of their licensed software through their microsoft reseller. If you have legally obtained physical media (CD/DVD) of earlier microsoft products that your organization is currently licensed to use through Downgrade rights , you may use these prior software versions at your discretion.