Microsoft loses bid to ban resale of licenses as UK court gives it the thumbs up

• The British court throws out Microsoft’s arguments against ValueLicensing
• ValueLicensing intends to seek £270 million from Microsoft
• Microsoft says it will appeal the decision

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has ruled that Microsoft cannot block customers from reselling perpetual software licenses, marking the end of a year-long debate.

The debate started in 2021, when ValueLicensing sought £270 million on the basis that Microsoft used contracts to prevent the resale of licenses – and despite the latter claiming that the resale of licenses infringed copyright, the company failed to get its way.