Microsoft key resale fight heads to court in the UK — case potentially puts cheap Windows keys at risk

Microsoft is in a legal battle in the UK over the resale of second-hand Windows and Office licenses, with a three-day hearing at the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal to determine if certain components of these software fall outside the EU’s resale rules. ValueLicensing, the reseller in question, claims Microsoft’s tactics have suppressed resale markets for years. If Microsoft's argument prevails, it could eliminate the resale market for Windows licenses in Europe and the UK, impacting DIY builders and refurbishers who rely on low-cost keys. The wider case, dating back to 2021, involves a £270 million competition claim against Microsoft, alleging market manipulation. A ruling in Microsoft's favor could potentially end the availability of second-hand Windows licenses in the UK.