Donating Software?

nuxx asks: "I have a copy of Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise x64 Edition here, with 25 Client Access Licenses which I don't need. I don't want to throw it away, but because it's a Not For Resale copy, I can't list it on eBay. So, I'd like to give it to a charity. It's a completely new, unused, legal copy which was handed to me by a Microsoft rep a few weeks ago, so this should be legal to do. The problem is, I'm not really sure how to donate software to a charity. Does anyone have any experience with this? Do you know of any resources available regarding how to send such donations and which organizations find them useful?"

Agreed

[RingDev]

I've worked with a few Not For Proffit organizations in the past, and we've always gone through TechSoup for our needs. Great organization.

-Rick

Here's the problem

[Anonymous Coward]

You're not allowed to donate the software according to Microsoft. Even if you could transfer it to a charity, in two years they would need to renew it at great cost which they probably can't afford. My suggestion is to give it to a school that can use it to teach students for a couple years then wipe it. Microsoft shouldn't have a problem with that and probably won't sue you or the school and probably won't raid you with the BSA and FBI in tow (though you never know).

Re:Microsoft has a nonprofit program

[laptop006]

Which would cost the charity I'm involved with almost $2k a year, that's well over a month worth of rent and simply an expense that we don't need to pay by using linux.

Re:techsoup

[Anonymous Coward]

Techsoup Stock is the registered MS partner for their software donations. This means you can buy _any_ MS product for substainially reduced rates if you are a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Windows XP upgrades are $8 - Windows Server 2003 R2 Enterprise Edition 64-bit is $160.
This is a fantastic resource for nonprofits and nonprofit IT managers (like me). They also offer software from Adobe, Symantec & Cisco equipment, amongst others. Excellent resource.
The answer to your question might be that it is actually cheaper & easier for many nonprofits to buy software than figure out the legalities of donating it! Or, if you can indeed donate it, donate it to a charity that is not able to meet techsoup's requirements.

Nate

Is it...

[LordVader717]

Are you really prohibited from reselling it? Might be like that in the US, but in Germany, I believe it was ruled that they can't stop you from reselling software, no matter what they print on the package. So, stores have lines of "not to be sold seperately" Windows copies and the like, which fetch almost the same price as the ones with a prettier box.

Have to check with your rep

[nurb432]

Often, those 'freebees' you get from your rep may NOT be redistributed in any form, even for free.. ( regardless of the fact you didnt use it )

However, somtimes they are.. It all just depends. You need to call your rep and see what you got in you hands there. A gift, or a door stop.