Is Visual Studio 2005 licensing per developer?

I was told by a CDW sales rep that licensing for Visual Studio 2005 is per developer and not per workstation. He said that a developer can install it on multiple workstations as long as he/she is the primary user on each workstation.

I asked the question because I have heard that Microsoft does allow you to install some software on a workstation and a laptop as long as you are the primary user of both machines. I just wanted to know if I could do the same with Visual Studio but if what he said was true I could install Visual Studio on my office PC as well as my home PC and while that would be wonderful I am not sure it is legal.

Has anybody reviewed the licensing for VS or have you heard this elsewhere?

There's a thread about this somewhere (I would link if I remembered). According to the EULA, he's right. As long as you're the only developer (not just the primary user) using VS, you can have it on multiple machines.

Does this apply to VS 2003 as well?

I think this is the thread SevenHalo was talking about.

VS2005

It sounds legit, but i would check it out more.

That's good to know. I had always thought that once I registered my copy from one machine it'd be unusable from another machine. Now I can defend myself against grandmas everywhere.

I searched this forum and couldn't find a thread about this subject. I also Googled it but didn't find anything specific to what I was looking for. I'll see if I can find the 2003 EULA and see if there is anything in there about it. (Edit: I posted this before I saw the link above. I am going there to read about it now. Thanks)

I wonder about a scenario like this. A developer works for a company that purchases Visual Studio. The employee installs it on his workstation at work and at home. If the employee parts ways with the company would he/she be required to remove Visual Studio from the home workstation immediately? I would suppose so but it would like to see exactly what the terms state.

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Originally Posted by space_monkey

I think this is the thread SevenHalo was talking about.

VS2005

It sounds legit, but i would check it out more.

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Yep, that's the one! Thanks.

@ Mend - I can't find anything on the EULA for 2003 except for academic versions... :sick:

Yeah i think you would have to remove it right away since you don't own the copy of vs.

Thanks though 7...

Actually, I know someone at MS who can answer this for me. :sick:

Wait a few hours, I'll get back with confirmation.

Here's the EULA from my copy. EDIT: Nevermind i found the real thing

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MICROSOFT SOFTWARE LICENSE TERMS
MICROSOFT VISUAL STUDIO 2005 PROFESSIONAL EDITION

These license terms are an agreement between Microsoft Corporation (or based on where you live, one of its affiliates) and you. Please read them. They apply to the software named above, which includes the media on which you received it, if any. The terms also apply to any Microsoft
• updates,
• supplements,
• Internet-based services, and
• support services
for this software, unless other terms accompany those items. If so, those terms apply.

BY USING THE SOFTWARE, YOU ACCEPT THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THEM, DO NOT USE THE SOFTWARE. INSTEAD, RETURN IT TO THE RETAILER FOR A REFUND OR CREDIT. If you cannot obtain a refund there, contact Microsoft or the Microsoft affiliate serving your country for information about Microsoft’s refund policies. See www.microsoft.com/worldwide. In the United States and Canada, call (800) MICROSOFT or see www.microsoft.com/info/nareturns.htm.
AS DESCRIBED BELOW, USING SOME FEATURES ALSO OPERATES AS YOUR CONSENT TO THE TRANSMISSION OF CERTAIN STANDARD COMPUTER INFORMATION FOR INTERNET-BASED SERVICES.

NOTICE: APPLICATIONS AND SERVICES BUILT WITH MICROSOFT VISUAL J# 2005 WILL RUN ONLY IN THE MICROSOFT .NET FRAMEWORK. VISUAL J# 2005 HAS BEEN INDEPENDENTLY DEVELOPED BY MICROSOFT. IT IS NOT ENDORSED OR APPROVED BY SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
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6. PRODUCT KEYS. The software requires a key to install or access it. You are responsible for the use of keys assigned to you. You should not share the keys with third parties.

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I chopped off some of the end part

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One user may install and use copies of the software to design, develop, test and demonstrate your programs.

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That sounds pretty straight forward to me. More then one installation is A-OK.

As far as using your company's licenses after you left, I think you'll need your own now. :sick:

This also applied to VB6 (it was more obvious in the EULA). And yes - once you leave the company you must buy your own licence. :(

Awesome. Thanks for all the information.