Downgrades Are Key to License Compliance

[June 9, 2014 note: A more recent version of this report, updated to reflect licensing changes, can be found at www.directionsonmicrosoft.com/licensing/2014/06/downgrades-are-key-microsoft-license-compliance.]

Customers who acquire a license for a particular product version and edition may deploy an earlier version or different edition in its place under certain circumstances. These licensing rules, called downgrade rights, vary not only by sales channel where the license was purchased but also by the particular product line, including which specific version and edition was licensed. Organizations that understand downgrade rights as well as other rules associated with product versions and editions can minimize risk by avoiding common license compliance issues and save money by averting unnecessary license purchases.

How Offerings Are Categorized into Version and Edition

Generally, when a customer licenses Microsoft software, the license is for a specific version and edition of the product.