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Language-Specific Keys?
Language-Specific Keys?
- Hi everybody
I'm a British citizen living in Taiwan. I'd like to buy Expression Web 3, but I can't find the English version over here (I tried to purchase from Microsoft's online store, but it doesn't work for some reason).
If I purchase Expression Web 3 in Taiwan (Chinese language version), will the key activate the English trial version I have installed? I guess the keys are not language-specific, but I just wanted to double check.
Thanks in advance!
Answers
- Quoting the licensing expert on the team: "Yes, that’s correct. Product keys should be interchangeable and tied to SKU, not language."
Paul Bartholomew
Microsoft Expression Web- Marked As Answer byJust Jonty Friday, November 06, 2009 5:04 AM
- Proposed As Answer byPaul Bartholomew,MSFT, ModeratorSunday, November 01, 2009 11:06 PM
- Hi everybody
Sorry for my late reply, there was a long delay receiving my boxed copy (another reason why downloads are better!).
Anyway, to the point: I bought Expression Web 3 Upgrade (Traditional Chinese) and the license key worked perfectly with the Expression Web 3 trial (English) I have installed, just like the others said it would, so no problems :)
For a little more detail, the boxed copy is made locally in Taiwan and is completely localized: all Chinese packaging, manuals, and no multi-lingual DVD (on a side note, the packaging is really nice, just like Windows 7).
When I started the English trial, I just entered the key provided inside the box, UAC prompted me about a program called 'license installer', and after that everything was done. It didn't seem to connect to the internet, nor did it seem to check if I qualified for the upgrade (I do, but it never asked for any other product keys etc.).
Overall it's a great, simple experience, just like it should be. Thanks Microsoft, and thanks for all your replies :)- Marked As Answer byJust Jonty Friday, November 06, 2009 5:11 AM
All Replies
- Interesting question. We've also had others inquiring about purchase in their country, where EW3 is not available at all yet, in any language, such as Canada and South Africa.I presume that a US version (i.e. purchased in the US) will activate with a US key from whatever country it is activated in, since at least one person mentioned driving south from B.C. to purchase it in Washington. Can anyone confirm that this is the case?Your case is different, since there apparently is a local language version currently available there. This is the first question with that sort of combination that we've had. So, I think it comes down to four questions:Are product keys universal, applicable to any local version from any location?If not...Are product keys tied to the language/localized version itself, whether downloaded or purchased retail?orAre product keys tied to the IP of the country from which activated?orIs there some combination of the above?If the first case is true, then it would seem you're good to go, JustJonty, and someone could buy a copy in the States and activate it from Mallorca, or vice versa. If not, then it may depend upon which of the other conditions are true.cheers,scott
Plural's don't have apostrophe's. It seem's sometime's that any word's ending in "s" get a gratuitous apostrophe. Apostrophe's are used to indicate possessive's and elision's (contraction's or abbreviation's). - Thanks Scott, that's a great reply!
Well, I took the plunge and ordered the Chinese upgrade version today. This weekend I'll see if will let me use that key to activate the English trial, so I'll report back then.
Fingers crossed ... :) - Please do let us know, you can't be the only person wondering. The only access I have to non-English versions is through MSDN and those come with the program key already installed so I can't test it out for you.
MS MVP Expression Tutorials & Help http://by-expression.com and online instructor led Expression Classes - <bump>
Paul, or anybody with a Microsoft connection, could you please answer this or contact someone who has an answer to this? It would be nice to know what result prevails in any of the possible scenarios given in my post above. Thanks.
cheers,
scott
Plural's don't have apostrophe's. It seem's sometime's that any word's ending in "s" get a gratuitous apostrophe. Apostrophe's are used to indicate possessive's and elision's (contraction's or abbreviation's). - I didn't work on the licensing code, so I can't answer the question off the top of my head. I think the answer is yes, that we do not generate language-specific licensing keys, but I'll have to confirm that with our licensing developer. I definitely can't think of any reason to not just try it. If it works, you're good, and if it doesn't, it will give you a message about an invalid key.
Paul Bartholomew
Microsoft Expression Web I didn't work on the licensing code, so I can't answer the question off the top of my head. I think the answer is yes, that we do not generate language-specific licensing keys, but I'll have to confirm that with our licensing developer. I definitely can't think of any reason to not just try it. If it works, you're good, and if it doesn't, it will give you a message about an invalid key.
Umm, I can think of one. We have a number of people who can't acquire a key through Digital River (Canada, South Africa, others). One of the options considered has been downloading the trial, then having a colleague or friend purchase a license key in the States and provide it to the user abroad. Finding out that it doesn't work after one has purchased it is bit too late, wouldn't you say?
Paul Bartholomew
Microsoft Expression Web
Another case example is the one of the person who originated this thread. He is living in Taiwan and cannot purchase the English language version online. In his case, there is a localized version available, in Chinese. However, he doesn't know Chinese and also doesn't know if he purchases a legal Chinese version, he can use the legit retail product key to activate his downloaded English version. For him to "just try it" would mean that he's out of pocket for the cost if it doesn't work.
You begin to see the problem? These folks just want to buy the product. I don't know why MS seems to be sitting on its thumb about this, basically four months after the US release. As far as MS and the US purchaser are concerned, no laws or regulations are broken—the sale is a standard value-for-consideration sale contract.
The only person who might even conceivably be at fault would be the receiving individual, for circumventing duties or something, although that's doubtful, and how would they know, anyway? The point is, no one wants to purchase a license key in the States and "just try it" in South Africa, only to learn that because of their IP address they can't activate.
We've had more than a few inquiries here in the forum about this over the last several months, which is why I asked about the various possible scenarios. If you can, please try to get a definitive answer for these folks. Hey, they only want to be customers, n'est-ce pas? ;-)
Thanks, Paul.
cheers,
scott
Plural's don't have apostrophe's. It seem's sometime's that any word's ending in "s" get a gratuitous apostrophe. Apostrophe's are used to indicate possessive's and elision's (contraction's or abbreviation's).- Well, sure, but that's really beside the point. The issue is that, for whatever reason, there are people outside the US who would like to purchase the product and cannot. There are ways around the issue, which are not illegal to Microsoft, if only these licensing issue questions were resolved.
cheers,
scott
Plural's don't have apostrophe's. It seem's sometime's that any word's ending in "s" get a gratuitous apostrophe. Apostrophe's are used to indicate possessive's and elision's (contraction's or abbreviation's). - LOL
I didn't cancel it quick enough.
now folks will be confused.
;-)
Expression Web MVP - <bg> Yeah, I was, too, when I saw you had replied and came back to see what. "Let's do the Time Warp, agai-n-n-n-n." ;-)
cheers,
scott
Plural's don't have apostrophe's. It seem's sometime's that any word's ending in "s" get a gratuitous apostrophe. Apostrophe's are used to indicate possessive's and elision's (contraction's or abbreviation's). - Quoting the licensing expert on the team: "Yes, that’s correct. Product keys should be interchangeable and tied to SKU, not language."
Paul Bartholomew
Microsoft Expression Web- Marked As Answer byJust Jonty Friday, November 06, 2009 5:04 AM
- Proposed As Answer byPaul Bartholomew,MSFT, ModeratorSunday, November 01, 2009 11:06 PM
- Thanks, Paul. that pretty much covers all of the scenarios described, and offers those who would like to purchase the upgrade a number of options besides letting their trials expire and then waiting until when, or if, they can purchase direct online or locally.
I understand that Microsoft may have to operate under constraints in the countries in question that are not legally escapable, and not obvious to those desiring to purchase. It's good to know that there are means by which potential customers may purchase the product without resort to cracks or other less savory methods. Thank you for taking the time to obtain this information.
cheers,
scott
Plural's don't have apostrophe's. It seem's sometime's that any word's ending in "s" get a gratuitous apostrophe. Apostrophe's are used to indicate possessive's and elision's (contraction's or abbreviation's). - Hi everybody
Sorry for my late reply, there was a long delay receiving my boxed copy (another reason why downloads are better!).
Anyway, to the point: I bought Expression Web 3 Upgrade (Traditional Chinese) and the license key worked perfectly with the Expression Web 3 trial (English) I have installed, just like the others said it would, so no problems :)
For a little more detail, the boxed copy is made locally in Taiwan and is completely localized: all Chinese packaging, manuals, and no multi-lingual DVD (on a side note, the packaging is really nice, just like Windows 7).
When I started the English trial, I just entered the key provided inside the box, UAC prompted me about a program called 'license installer', and after that everything was done. It didn't seem to connect to the internet, nor did it seem to check if I qualified for the upgrade (I do, but it never asked for any other product keys etc.).
Overall it's a great, simple experience, just like it should be. Thanks Microsoft, and thanks for all your replies :)- Marked As Answer byJust Jonty Friday, November 06, 2009 5:11 AM
