Navigating The Used Software Market

After years of wrangling, on July 3, 2012, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) declared that trading in used software programs was legal in the European Union. This landmark decision reaffirmed that enterprises with excess software license capacity can sell off their unused software assets to resellers who can then offer the used software for sale. Since then, businesses across Europe have taken advantage of this burgeoning market. Not only can enterprises make money by selling unwanted licenses, but they can also save money by buying cheaper used software to fill requirement gaps. It's a double win for software users and a loss for leading software vendors like Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP. This report examines how the market for used software has matured and offers some tips for enterprises considering this as a viable sell or buy option.